The Chase County baseball team took a pair of run-rule victories over Inman on Friday, winning the first game, 17-7, and the second one, 14-4.
The Bulldogs recovered nicely in the first game after falling behind 5-0 in the first inning.
CCHS scored four runs on three hits in the bottom of the frame, as Brian Palermo and Nate Phipps both contributed RBI doubles.
“We are hitting so well that we don’t get shook up when we are behind,” CCHS coach Jay Talkington said.
The Bulldogs didn’t stop there, scoring three more in the second and five in the third. Shawn Talkington added a two-run triple in the third, while Palermo chipped in his second two-run double of the game.
Chase County ended up scoring at least one run in each inning, and RBI singles from Cole Starkey, Palermo and Kyle Hannigan in the sixth helped the Bulldogs to a three-run frame that enforced the run rule.
Palermo improved to 3-0, going the complete game after throwing 48 pitches in the first inning. He also led the Chase County bats, going 4-for-5 with five RBI.
Hannigan and Jim Lauer both added three hits apiece.
In the nightcap, CCHS once again bounced back after facing an early deficit.
Inman scored four in the top of the first, but the Bulldogs answered with four in their half of the inning. All four runs came on a grand slam to right field by cleanup hitter Greg Davis.
CCHS’s offense once again didn’t let up, scoring in every inning. The Bulldogs pulled away with a four-run fourth, as Talkington contributed a two-run single.
Palermo added an inside-the-park home run in the next inning.
Starkey picked up the win, allowing four runs — none earned — in four innings.
Talkington led the Chase County offense, going 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Chase County (15-1) has won 14 straight games.
Olpe girls 4th at Burlington
On Tuesday, April 29, the Olpe track and field team competed in the Burlington Invitational against 16 other teams. The girls finished fourth in the team standings behind Santa Fe Trail, Chanute, and Fort Scott, while the boys came in 10th.
Katelyn Henderson was the workhorse for girls squad, finishing second in both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs in times of 5 minute, 57.11 seconds and 12:22.00, respectively. Henderson also teamed with Kelsey Camien, Kathryn Flott and Sharon Zeller to win the 4x800-meter relay in a time of 10:49.60, and then went on to finish third in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:35.29.
The rest of Olpe’s distance runners had a busy day, as Zeller finished fourth in the 3,200 (12:37), Camien came in fourth in the 400-meter dash (1:04.67), and Flott placed fourth in the 800 (2:37.72). Flott also tied for third in the high jump with a jump of 4 feet, 10 inches.
Megan Woods and Katie Moyer also had big days in the throwing events. Woods finished third in the shot put with a throw of 35-5, while Moyer threw a season-best 110 feet in the javelin, good for fourth place.
The girls 4x400-meter relay finished seventh in a time of 4:34, with the team consisting of Camien, Flott, Natalie Kuhlmann and Zeller.
On the boys side, Bradley Argabright finished a big day with a second-place showing in the 800 in a time of 2:03.27, followed by a seventh-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 38-8. Argabright also ran on the 4x800 relay with Jason Klumpe, Alex Kuhlmann and Wade Schmidt, as the quartet finished fourth in a time of 8:57, and then teamed with Josh Klumpe, Luke Miller and Trey Stead on the 4x400 relay that placed third in a time of 3:40.60.
Other individual placers were: Josh Klumpe, seventh in the 400 (56.15); Stead, eighth in the 800 (2:13.49); Matt Redeker, seventh in the discus (116 feet) and eighth in the javelin (133-1); and Alex Dreier, seventh in the javelin (133-6).
Olpe is back in action on Thursday at the Lyon County League Championships at Welch Stadium in Emporia.
Energy U-12s have 1-3 start to year
The 12-and-under Emporia Energy started its season with a 1-3 record in a one-day tournament in Council Grove on Sunday.
Emporia started the day by running into a tough Topeka Road Runner team and suffered a 16-2 loss. The Energy couldn’t get its bats going in Game One and was flat on the defensive side as well. Katie Weiser scored both of the Energy runs and had two shoestring catches at second base.
Next, the Energy played the Crush and stuck close, but in the end came up short in a 4-3 loss in its last game of pool play. Weiser led the effort with two hits and run scored. Paige Turney and Amanda Crone each scored a run as well.
The Crush scored all four of its runs in the second inning, winning the game by a single run.
Emporia began bracket play with a convincing 9-1 win over the Council Grove Down and Dirty.
The 12s had a balanced attack on offense, with eight of the nine starters scoring. They were led by Ashley Jackson, who scored two runs and had two hits. Kate Decker added a triple and two runs of her own.
Emporia ended its tournament with an 8-1 loss to the Chase County Explosion.
In the final game, the Energy struggled to hit past the Explosion defense and the pitching of Taylor Heins. Heins allowed only two Energy hits, one by Emily Giffin and another by Jackson.
The 12s will travel next weekend to Winfield for a two-day tournament.
Emporia Energy U-10s go 1-2 in Council Grove tournament
The Emporia Energy U-10s opened their season by going 1-2 in a one-day tournament at Council Grove on Saturday.
Emporia started with an opening loss to the Topeka Storm by a score of 6-3. The team then shut out the Chase County Explosion, 5-0, and wrapped up with a back-and-forth loss to the McPherson Lady Express by a 4-2 score.
Abby Weiser pitched Games One and Three. She tallied 10 strikeouts, walked seven, and allowed 11 hits in the two games.
Kylee Giffin was in the circle for Game Two and recorded eight strikeouts, four walks, and allowed one hit.
The Energy had a strong defensive effort, especially from Weiser, who had an unassisted double play and two putouts. Morgan Holmes also played well on the left side of the infield.
Offensively, Emporia was led by Weiser who had two hits. Aly Boyer had a triple, and Abbey Jackson, Holmes, Emma Harmon, and Jade Smith added a hit apiece.
The U-10s will travel to Winfield for a tournament next weekend.