By Evan Reller
IUPUI Student Journalist
FORTVILLE – North Central (Indianapolis) gained an early lead over Class 3A ninth-ranked Mt. Vernon (Fortville) and never looked back April 7 in evening its season record at 1-1 in yet another high-scoring affair that went the Panthers’ way, 15-2.
Coming off a brutally windy 20-10 loss the day before at 2005 4A state champion Brownsburg, the Panthers pounced early with a four-run first inning. Junior center fielder Jordan Rhinehart started the game with a double and, after junior shortstop Mel Skochdople walked, junior right-handed pitcher Joe Trennepohl ripped an RBI double.
Two more Panther runs would score off Marauder errors, and sophomore catcher Ben Breymier added an RBI as the Panthers batted around to open the game.
Mt. Vernon (1-1) didn’t get on the board until the third inning. That’s when junior catcher Logan Blair knocked in sophomore designated hitter Zach McFarland, who had opened the inning with a double before stealing third.
But North Central resumed its attack in the fourth with five runs. Pitching became a problem for Mt. Vernon as three batters were walked, including one for a run with the bases loaded. Senior left fielder Cal Swarbrick then doubled in two runs with the bases loaded before junior second baseman Josh Holbert continued the scoring with a two-run single.
NC coach Andy Noble began substituting freely for the Panthers, and some of those players came through with another five runs on five hits and three walks in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach.
Trennepohl surrendered just one earned run and five hits with six strikeouts en route to the win, while junior lefty Jack Peck (one earned run and three hits with two strikeouts in one inning) picked up the save.
Both teams will return to action with April 10 doubleheaders. North Central will host Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference rival Terre Haute South, while Mt. Vernon travels to Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Delta.
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