Panthers and Trojans Win Sectional Openers

Riverton Parke and Covington were opening round winners in the IHSAA Baseball Sectional tournament at Riverton Parke High School on Thursday night.

In the opening game of the night Riverton Parke scored three times in the 8th inning to beat Turkey Run 4-1.

Each team scored a run in the first inning then the starting pitchers took over the game.

The Panthers Tim Johnson threw a complete game allowing only 6 hits while striking out 12 batters. The Warriors Schyler Jeffers held the Panthers to only one hit from the 2nd through 7th innings.

But in the 8th Johnson led off with a double. Zach White gave RP the lead with an RBI single. The next batter Blake Price launched a long home run to center field that gave the Panthers a 4-1 advantage.

For Turkey Run, Jeff Woods was 2 for 3 and Issac Hobbs had an RBI single.

In game two Covington came from behind to beat North Vermillion 15-5.

NV got a two run homer in the first inning by Ethan Clark and a two run homer in the 3rd by Jacob Rankin to lead 4-1 after three innings.

But No. 9 ranked Covington erupted for 3 runs in the 4th, one in the 5th and 7 more in the 6th to advance to face the Panthers on Monday.

For North Vermillion, Robert Sollars had a solo home run and Dalton McCool was 2 for 3 with a double.

Riverton Parke (17-12) plays Covington (18-7) at 10 a.m. Monday.