MSJHS Cross Country excels at Cowchip Classic, baseball and softball ending regular season strong

By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

Mahomet-Seymour’s boys’ cross-country team continues to excel in meets with runners from multiple schools.

In Saturday’s non-scored Chrisman Cowchip Classic – no team results were tracked – M-S had five runners placed among the top 25 finishers in both the eight-grade and seventh-grade races while in the 2-mile run for sixth-graders, four of the top 15 placers were Bulldogs.

Leading the school’s charge was eighth-grader Davin Tietz. He had the fastest M-S time for the day, regardless of age. He finished seventh in a field of 78 eighth-grade competitors. His 2-mile time was 12 minutes, 6.13 seconds.

Other M-S leaders in the eighth-grade race were Finn Randolph (ninth in 12:27.45), Isaac Warren (16th in 12:44.66), Grant Smysor (22nd in 13:03.04) and Kai Jones (24th in 13:08.44).

The boys’ seventh-grade race featured 100 runners. M-S’ Ty Clark was the team-leader, finishing in seventh-place with a time of 12:13.77.

Other M-S leaders were Lukas Nykaza (10th in 12:26.52), Sean Daedy-Dreider (14th in 12:51.21), Kaden Jackson (16th in 12:54.79) and Blake Dillman (19th in 13:05.29).

In the race for sixth-graders, the top four from M-S entered the chute within 52 seconds of one another, led by Landyn Hannah. He took fourth out of 73 runners with a time of 12:39.44.

Teammates following him included Henry McMurry (eighth in 13:13.57), Chase Dockham (10th in 13:14.28) and Ethan Peterka (15th in 13:31.31).

There was also an open race for junior high runners of any age who had not competed in another race. An estimated 500 runners were entered in the open race.

The first five M-S male finishers in the open race were Parker Wilkins, Zach Wilcoski, Charlie Hawley, Todd Laughton and Emmett Kearns.

“Once again, we had nearly ideal conditions as far as the weather was concerned while racing through the hilly cow pasture behind Chrisman Junior High,” M-S coach Lisa Martin said. “While the course was a bit rough because of the dry conditions, we found a way to once again top many of our competitors.

“For many of our athletes, this is their favorite meet with one of the toughest courses we will run all season. Most all of them found a way to celebrate their hard work after the race by enjoying the atmosphere that comes along with the tradition of attending this meet.”

M-S returns to action on Saturday at Normal Parkside.

Mahomet-Seymour Junior High Girls’ cross-country

M-S registered top 10 finishes by multiple runners in Saturday’s Chrisman Cowchip Classic.

The event was broken into 2-mile race for the various grade levels. No team scores were kept.

In the 65-runner race for eighth-graders, Ava Boyd took fourth with a 2-mile time of 12 minutes, 45.24 seconds.

Other team leaders were Brooke Arnett (25th in 15:37.62), Lauren Bednar (29th in 15:55.04), Sadie Wilcoxon (53rd in 17:21.38) and Meg Turner (56th in 17:59.37).

Three Bulldogs registered top 10 performances in the 71-runner race for seventh-graders.

Leading the way was Avah Turner (fourth in 13:16.51). She was followed by teammates Emmaline Culp (fifth in 13:17.23) and Ava Jansen (ninth in 13:53.43).

Other team leaders were Phoebe Truax (14th in 14:31.33) and Chloe Bundren (17th in 14:34.38).

Four Bulldogs emerged with top 15 placements in the 82-runner field for sixth-graders, including an unusual tie for seventh place by teammates Haley Reed and Hadley Grotelueschen (14:36.84).

Riley Sapp ended in 11th (15:03.66), Isabel Lietz ran 15th in 15:15.49 and Lily Bosworth was 37th in 17:00.65.

In the open race, for junior high boys and girls of all ages, the top five M-S female leaders were Ainsley Smith, Gabby Reeves, Isabelle Difanis, Isabelle Scheele and Morgan Waisath.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday at Normal Parkside.

Mahomet-Seymour Junior High Baseball

The Bulldogs (6-3) outlasted St. Matthew 4-2 in 12 innings last Wednesday (Sept. 4) in Champaign.

Pitchers Cade Starrick and Peyton Cox combined on a four-hitter. Starrick yielded three hits in seven innings while walking one and striking out eight.

Cox worked five scoreless innings, permitting one hit, one walk and fanning four.

Braden Pagel (three hits) and Gavin Bailey (two hits) sparked the nine-hit M-S attack.

St. Matthew carried a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning before M-S scored twice to force extra innings.

Bailey, Cox, Noah Butler and Nathan Hale scored the M-S runs.

On Monday, M-S prevailed at Normal Parkside, 7-1.

Kody Ackman pitched a complete-game five-hitter, walking no one and striking out seven. The run he allowed was unearned.

Offensive catalysts for the Bulldogs were Bailey and Tyson Finch with two hits apiece. Pagel and Hale each scored two runs.

Bailey drove in three runs and Finch had two RBI.

In his previous outing (Tuesday, Sept. 3) Ackman fired a shutout as M-S blanked Unity 8-0. He fanned eight in a three-hitter.

Nolan Johnson led the team’s 13-hit offensive attack, collecting four hits. Bailey and Cox each totaled two hits.

M-S returns to action today against Champaign Franklin.

Mahomet-Seymour Junior High Softball

M-S ended the regular season with wins in both of its games last week.

On Wednesday (Sept. 4), the team decisioned St. Matthew 14-4 in a five-inning game.

Maddie Cortez and Ava Henderson both contributed at least two hits. Henderson and Sydney McKinney each knocked in at least two runs. Henderson earned the pitching win.

The team’s 10 eighth-graders were recognized that night: Ava Arnett, Aubrey Burson, Maddie Cortez, Taylor Fulk, Maddie Grindley, Ava Henderson, Izzy Leyhe, Sydney McKinney, Delaney Shore and Madison Taylor.

On Thursday (Sept. 5), the Bulldogs knocked off Urbana 9-6.

McKinney sparked the offense, finishing 4-for-4 while driving in three runs. Henderson and Delaney Shore shared the pitching load.  Shore worked the last four innings and notched the win.

M-S (7-10) returns to action today in its first-round regional game at Champaign Centennial, hoping to avenge a regular-season 10-7 loss to Champaign Jefferson.

The Bulldogs carry a two-game winning streak into the tournament.

“The girls are upbeat and very confident going into our regional game,” coach James Heinold said.