PEKIN — For the first time in 14 years, the Charlestown Pirates are Mid-Southern Conference champions.

Alyssa Price went 4-for-4 to lead the Pirates’ softball team to a 6-2 victory at Eastern on Thursday to secure Charlestown’s first conference crown since 1998.

“It’s a great accomplishment for a team that I thought would go .500 this year,” Charlestown head coach Kevin Zollman said. “They’ve done over and above what I thought they would do.”

Price’s biggest blast was a leadoff solo home run in the fourth inning. Teammate Gracynn Jennings went 2-for-4.

Charlestown starting pitcher Alli Webster pitched a complete game, allowing three hits. She gave up no earned runs, walked four and struck out 12.

“She did well,” Zollman said. “The strike zone got a little tight, but I thought she did well. Anytime you strike out 12, you’ve done a good job.”

Zollman thought the key turning point in the game was the top of the third inning. With the bases loaded and two out, Charlestown’s Morgan Ashby cleared the bases with a three-run double to left-center field to put the Pirates (17-3, 8-1 MSC) up 4-2.

Charlestown extended its winning streak to 16 games. The Pirates host Crawford County today.

• Hornets clinch share of SAC: Host Henryville clinched a share of the Southern Athletic Conference title with an 8-5 victory over South Central.

Erin Harrison paced the Hornet bats, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Also for Henryville (11-10, 4-1 SAC), Sarah Richey went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs and Sydney Hollingsworth was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Hornets’ Natalie Basham got the victory on the mound. In a complete-game effort, she gave up three earned runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts.

“We’ve had a really up-and-down year, so it’s good to have something to celebrate,” Henryville head coach Jenny Schroeder said.

The Hornets will play in the Silver Creek Tournament on Saturday.

• Bulldogs defeat Lanesville: Freshman pitcher Hannah Morton gave up only four hits in New Albany’s 6-2 home win over Lanesville.

Morton pitched all seven innings, giving up two earned runs and four walks. She struck out two.

The Bulldogs’ Brittany Jones and Jamie Whitten each went 2-for-3. New Albany will travel to Jennings County at 6 tonight in the third-place game of the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament.

• Mustangs cruise past Crothersville: Coari Robertson and Kayla Sexton each went 3-for-3 to lead host New Washington past Crothersville in five innings, 16-2.

Sexton had three RBIs, while Robertson drove in two runs and had three doubles. Also for the Mustangs (11-7), Lindsey Mudd went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, while Ashley Johnson was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and an inside-the-park homer.

New Washington starter Whitney Morris was the winning pitcher. She pitched a perfect three innings, striking out all nine batters she faced.

“Whitney Morris pitched excellent,” Mustangs’ head coach Tim Sexton said. “Our batters are seeing the ball and hitting the ball good.”

New Washington will visit Switzerland County on Saturday in a doubleheader.

• Generals defeat Scottsburg: Host Clarksville celebrated its Senior Night with a 9-1 victory over Scottsburg.

The Generals’ Caitlyn Hall and Kayla Wallace each went 2-for-3. Hall had two RBIs. Teammate Lex Medlock went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Clarksville pitcher Hannah Heintzman was the winning pitcher, allowing one hit and two walks. She struck out five. Teammate Ali Sparkman made seven assists in the field.

The Generals will compete in the Silver Creek Tournament on Saturday.



GIRLS’ TENNIS

• Dragons down Providence: Host Silver Creek had a successful Senior Day in its 4-1 victory against Providence.

At No. 1 singles, the Dragons’ Kat Hebble knocked off Jacqueline Hollkamp, 6-1, 7-5. Silver Creek senior Kristen Haeberlein beat Alison Primavera at two singles, 6-0, 6-0. The Dragons’ Tess Vanover prevailed at three singles, 6-1, 7-6(4).

The Silver Creek tandem of senior Rain Hopkins and sophomore Jenny Block beat Megan Jakoby and Kelsey Haas in three sets, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(9-7).

Providence’s lone point came at No. 2 doubles. The Pioneers’ Kristin Simms and Sarah Federspiel beat Dragon seniors Miranda Densford and Lindsey Rector, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Densford and Rector were both playing their first varsity matches of their high school careers.

“I was pretty impressed with our seniors,” Silver Creek head coach Robert Briscoe said. “Overall, we played a tough match. It was a good way to send off our seniors.”

The Dragons will visit Columbus North on Saturday to play the 23rd-ranked Bull Dogs and No. 22 Terre Haute North.

• Mustangs sweep CAI: Visiting New Washington got its third win of the season with a 5-0 victory at Christian Academy of Indiana.

The Mustangs’ Courtney Amick and Tiffanie Brison each got wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively. Teammate Melanie Dieterlen won her No. 3 singles match by forfeit.

At No. 1 doubles, the New Washington duo of Alex Seals and Ashley Johnson beat Rachel Jones and Courtney Heishman, 6-3, 6-2. At two doubles, the Mustangs’ Amanda Kemp and Christen Walker knocked off the Warriors’ Emily Mitchell and Courtney Brown, 6-4, 6-1.

“Everybody played well for us today and I was pleased with every one of my players,” New Washington head coach Wayne Davis said. “CAI has a nice young team and will only get better.”

The Mustangs visit Corydon today.



BASEBALL

• Hornets take care of Trinity Lutheran: Dakota Harrell and Braydon Quillin each had three hits to lead visiting Henryville at Trinity Lutheran, 12-5. Harrell had four RBIs, while Quillin drove in two runs.

Teammates Brent Taylor and Bailey Hall each were 2-for-3, while the Hornets’ Jordan Hahn was 2-for-5.

Henryville’s Joey Martin was the winning pitcher. He went the distance, yielding one earned run on six hits. He walked six and fanned five.

“We came out swinging the bats in the first four innings. We hit line drive after line drive,” Hornets’ head coach Jeff Schroeder said. “I still would like to see us make fewer errors and walk fewer guys.”

Henryville (10-9) will face Lawrenceburg in the first round of the Charlestown Invitational on Saturday.

• Generals fall at Eastern: Clarksville left eight runners on base in a 3-2 setback at Eastern. Tanner Wallace was the losing pitcher for the Generals.

“We left runners in scoring position way too many times,” Clarksville head coach Chris Kane said. “The bottom of our order didn’t perform. We didn’t get what we needed from some of our guys.”

The Generals will play in the Mitchell Tournament on Saturday.

• Pirates fall at Brownstown: Leading 4-2 after three innings, Charlestown gave up three unearned runs with two out in the bottom of the fourth and lost at Brownstown, 5-4.

“We wasted many opportunities tonight,” Pirates’ head coach Ricky Romans said. “Our defense just didn’t come through. The fourth inning really killed us. We just didn’t make the plays.”

Charlestown (13-8, 3-5 MSC) will host Convenant Christian in the Charlestown Invitational on Saturday.



BOYS’ GOLF

• Hornets beat CAI: Evan Embry shot a 2-under-par 33 to win medalist honors and lead Henryville to a dual-meet victory over CAI at Hidden Creek Golf Club’s Links Nine course, 169-208. Embry made three birdies and one bogey.

Also for the Hornets, Mitchell Fields fired a 43, Cody Gray had a 44, Cameron Furnish carded a 49 and Bailey Reister had a 50.

“We played pretty well,” Henryville head coach Robin Embry said. “Evan really likes that course. Our No. 2 and 3 players played better and our No. 4 and 5 players are getting better.”

Jason Arrell led the Warriors with a 39. Teammates Chris Kidd and Travis Jones each scored a 52.

Henryville will compete in the Southern Indiana Open on Saturday at Hidden Creek.

• Pirates edge Corydon: Charlestown picked up its first win this season by beating Corydon at Hidden Creek’s Links Nine course, 181-183.

The Pirates’ Jordan Scott earned medalist honors with a 38. Teammate Chris Braun fired a 44, followed Charlestown’s Josh Wray with a 49. Trey Harrett and Austin Kasey each chipped in a 50.

“That’s exciting,” Pirates’ head coach Adam Tolliver said about his players’ first triumph of 2012. “It was done by a bunch of guys that didn’t play much this season. They really stepped up.”

Charlestown will host the Southern Indiana Open on Saturday.