TERRE HAUTE —
An undefeated team featuring the state’s leading scorer will be in town, and the possibility exists for a rematch of arguably the season’s best regular-season match.
Those are only two of the expected highlights this week as high school soccer sectionals are played at five sites involving Wabash Valley teams.
Class 2A boys play is at Terre Haute North. That’s where the Patriots (7-8-1) open this evening against Owen Valley and where Vincennes Lincoln will visit on Wednesday with Eric Ramirez and his 63 goals supported by playmaker Kyle Richardville.
Class 2A girls are at Terre Haute South, where three weeks ago the host Braves and Terre Haute North played an exciting match that could be repeated if all goes well for the two teams.
Class A boys are at two sites, West Vigo and North Knox, while Sullivan hosts a Class A girls sectional (and the only other match to be played today, Washington Catholic vs. South Knox).
Sullivan’s girls appear to be the only ranked team involved — they were 16th in a recent poll — although the Vincennes boys have gotten votes in their poll.
North’s boys are the last team to have beaten the Alices, in sectional play a year ago, and coach John Welch might welcome another chance against them.
That would at least mean his Patriots — who have a prolific scorer themselves in four-year veteran Jacob Parham — had reached the championship match Saturday morning.
“Getting past Owen Valley is what we’re thinking of first,” he said by telephone Sunday. “And Northview [the team that would play tonight’s winner in the semifinal round] beat [Terre Haute] South by the same score we did … one step at a time.”
Vincennes is “kind of considered the favorite to be in the finals,” Welch noted, but the Alices open on Wednesday against South’s defending sectional champions.
First match Tuesday at South features Vincennes Lincoln against Owen Valley, but things get interesting by Thursday.
Northview is in the first semifinal match against the host Braves — who surprised North in last year’s sectional to win — while the Patriots (9-5) face Tuesday’s winner in the second semifinal.
“I could see a North-South final if it goes like it should,” coach Dave Drake of South (10-4-1) said — but no coach in the field knows better than Drake that sectionals can be unpredictable.
Drake can predict who his key player will be, however. That’s goalkeeper Kelli Buchanan, particularly if Saturday night’s championship is Braves vs. Patriots.
“We know North is faster [than we are] and has a lot of talent,” Drake said, “and we know they’ll get more shots. We have to be smarter, and we’ve got to score on our own opportunities … we’re banking on our goalkeeper.”
Buchanan’s counterpart in Class A girls sectional play is Cobie Harrison of Sullivan (11-4-1), a mainstay for two straight sectional winners — the Golden Arrows were single-class sectional champions in 2010 — and even more valuable this year.
“We’ve really had to find new ways to score,” coach Kurt Hauger of the Arrows said, “but our defense has been great and our goalkeeper is having a really good year.” Sullivan plays Pike Central on Tuesday, with West Vigo and South Vermillion in the second match.
Maddie Figg has passed the 20-goal threshold for Sullivan, helping take up some of the slack for graduated stars Christina Haag and Caryssa West, and the Arrows have beaten all the potential sectional foes they’ve played. Expect Hauger to be an interested spectator tonight, because Washington Catholic and South Knox — who tied 3-3 during the regular season — could be the class of their half of the bracket.
“[The championship] should come down to us and [tonight’s winner],” Hauger predicted.
Class A boys tournaments begin Wednesday at West Vigo and North Knox, where the Vikings and Sullivan are defending champions.
The Vikings, who also came close to a regional win against a strong Greencastle team last year — the Tiger Cubs play at the Bethesda Christian Sectional — lost a lot of veterans and a lot of scoring from that team. Covington, last year’s runner-up, might be the team to beat this time.
Sullivan opens against the host team Wednesday at Bicknell, with Vincennes Rivet and South Knox in the 5 p.m. match there.
Sports
Valley soccer teams see key matchups as sectional play begins
- Sports
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Score: Post 346 runner #6 Jacob Johnson scores after a collision with the Pate catcher in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon.
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Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
It’s an interesting dance that Wayne Newton Post 346 and Evansville Pate Post 265 have developed in American Legion baseball’s Terre Haute Invitational, and the last waltz was saved for the host team Sunday.
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DeNato proves IU can pitch too
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
The junior left-hander threw a four-hitter and the Hoosiers looked mighty comfortable at TD Ameritrade Park while beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night. -
Metro roundup: Givens, Mundy win two-man golf tournament
Scott Givens and Tim Mundy maintained their first-day lead to win the Show-Me’s Two-Man golf tournament concluded Sunday at Rea Park
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Goatee, Bertoli ran away with Spring Athlete of the Year
When honoring athletes after a season of excellence, the phrase “what might have been” doesn’t usually come up.
But in the case of Terre Haute South’s Jackson Bertoli and Terre Haute North’s TaPring Goatee – the Tribune-Star’s Athletes of the Year for spring sports – there’s an air of unfinished business despite obvious recent successes.
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TODD GOLDEN: Golf ... the beast within?
Like many sports fans, my interest in professional golf is confined to the four major tournaments. Many prefer the Masters, some like the back-to-roots British Open, but I’ve always liked the U.S. Open the best.
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Evansville Pate defeats Post 346 in tournament
Post 346 (7-2) will play Evansville Pate again today at 2:30 p.m. at North and the winner advances to the championship game.
- METRO ROUNDUP: Good week for Brown on golf course
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Sliders’ frustration against Rex continues
The Springfield Sliders probably curse the departure of the Dubois County Bombers from the Prospect League more than most.
What do the Bombers, who now ply their trade in the Ohio Valley League, have to do with the Sliders, or for that matter, the Terre Haute Rex?
When the Bombers left the Prospect League it created a situation where the Prospect League’s West Division teams — the Rex and Sliders both being members — had one less opponent to play in intradivision play.
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Super Bowl champion gives back to kids
If they were quiet, several dozen youngsters were promised Friday, they could pass around a real Super Bowl ring after its owner was finished speaking to them.
The response was near silence, and before long Steve Weatherford’s treasured jewelry was circulating throughout the cafeteria at Terre Haute North High School.
It’s hard to imagine, however, what kind of din would have prompted Weatherford to leave the ring on his finger, because he could relate to the most impish of his listeners. -
Metro roundup: Trio announced for Valley Hall of Fame induction
Dr. David “Pudge” Bennett, Nick Mourouzis and Dick Ranard will be inducted into the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame at a banquet Friday in Hulman Center.
The ninth annual WVFCA All-Star Game will be June 22 at Memorial Stadium. The all-star teams report to practice Sunday.
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Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
- Local Interest
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Score: Post 346 runner #6 Jacob Johnson scores after a collision with the Pate catcher in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon.
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Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
It’s an interesting dance that Wayne Newton Post 346 and Evansville Pate Post 265 have developed in American Legion baseball’s Terre Haute Invitational, and the last waltz was saved for the host team Sunday.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Wayne Newton 2-1 on young season
Wayne Newton Post 346 improved to 2-1 in American Legion baseball with a late 8-3 victory over Effingham on Thursday night.
Craig Peters was winning pitcher for Post 346 and T.J. Decker and Cody Thornton led a 16-hit attack with three hits each. -
Rex looking to return to pitching dominance Sunday against Springfield
During a 7-1 start and franchise-best seven-game winning streak, Terre Haute Rex pitching was the catalyst. Through eight games, the Rex led the Prospect League with an earned-run average of 1.11.
Even after giving up 10 runs Friday night in a 10-6 loss to the Quincy Gems, the Rex (7-2) are still the league leader in ERA at 2.09. -
FROM TERRE HAUTE TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES: Former Scamore hurlers doing well in White Sox system
Brian Omogrosso was promoted to Chicago and appeared in 11 games. The big right-hander compiled a 5.14 earned-run average in 14 innings of relief. He struck out 14 and walked seven.
- COLLEGE REPORT: Wabash College All-American relay team has TH flavor
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Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
- High School
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Goatee, Bertoli ran away with Spring Athlete of the Year
When honoring athletes after a season of excellence, the phrase “what might have been” doesn’t usually come up.
But in the case of Terre Haute South’s Jackson Bertoli and Terre Haute North’s TaPring Goatee – the Tribune-Star’s Athletes of the Year for spring sports – there’s an air of unfinished business despite obvious recent successes.
- Post 346 opens tournament with two victories
- North boys move up to 13th in golf state finals
- Big hill to climb for North golf
- Top of her game
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- College
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Indiana starting pitcher Joey DeNato (23) celebrates throwing out Louisville's Coco Johnson (20) at first for the second out in the bottom of the ninth inning in an NCAA College World Series game in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, June 15, 2013 (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Ryan Soderlin) MAGS OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TV OUT
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DeNato proves IU can pitch too
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
The junior left-hander threw a four-hitter and the Hoosiers looked mighty comfortable at TD Ameritrade Park while beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night. -
Etherington, Moore happy to be with ISU basketball
Not even two weeks into their college experience, Indiana State freshmen men’s basketball players Alex Etherington and Demetrius Moore stood sentinel as 115 kids ran around them collecting basketballs and getting autographs at the Greg Lansing Basketball Camp on Thursday.
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ISU's Johnson invited to World University Games
Indiana State senior Felisha Johnson will be traveling the world this summer after being named to represent the United States in the women’s shot put at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: Close, but no cigar, theme for ISU sports in 2012-13
When I covered my first event of Indiana State’s 2012-13 season — ISU’s opening football game at Indiana — I was the first one in the press box at IU’s Memorial Stadium. I’m never the first one in the press box.
Maybe the prospect of ISU’s season had me so pumped that I decided to get it started close to three hours early? (Or more truthfully, maybe I was over-vigilent about predicted traffic horrors on the Indiana 46 bypass that never came to pass.) -
Q&A: ISU football coach Mike Sanford ready for fall
It’s hard to believe, but Mike Sanford has already been Indiana State’s football coach for six months.
Time flies, but Sanford’s task of preparing for his first season in charge of the Sycamores comes with few breaks.
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DeNato proves IU can pitch too
- Sports Columns
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TODD GOLDEN: Golf ... the beast within?
Like many sports fans, my interest in professional golf is confined to the four major tournaments. Many prefer the Masters, some like the back-to-roots British Open, but I’ve always liked the U.S. Open the best.
- Trackside: Midgets could be on rise in Wabash Valley
- RAMBLIN’ RECK: South grad helps VU to national golf title
- FROM THE PRESS BOX: Close, but no cigar, theme for ISU sports in 2012-13
- TRACKSIDE: Bad weather gives time to reflect
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TODD GOLDEN: Golf ... the beast within?
- Pro Sports
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
- Deacon Jones of famed Fearsome Foursome dead at 74
- Seeking elite status
- Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
- Terre Haute Rex
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Good hands: Terre Haute Rex shortstop Nick Johnson fields a groundball for an out in their game with Springfield Friday night at Warn Field.
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Sliders’ frustration against Rex continues
The Springfield Sliders probably curse the departure of the Dubois County Bombers from the Prospect League more than most.
What do the Bombers, who now ply their trade in the Ohio Valley League, have to do with the Sliders, or for that matter, the Terre Haute Rex?
When the Bombers left the Prospect League it created a situation where the Prospect League’s West Division teams — the Rex and Sliders both being members — had one less opponent to play in intradivision play.
- Sanchez stays hot to lead Rex to victory
- Rex fall at home to Sliders
- Rex looking to return to pitching dominance Sunday against Springfield
- Terre Haute Rex win franchise-record seventh straight game
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Sliders’ frustration against Rex continues
- Colts
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
- Landry believes he'll acclimate to Colts system
- Colts in harmony with new coordinator Hamilton
- Pagano amazed by collection of veterans
- Opening Day: Terre Haute Rex host Quincy
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Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
- Auto Racing
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Winner's kiss: Tony Kanaan of KV Racing Technology kisses the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Kanaan won his first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday and kissed the bricks as part of a tradition at the Motor Speedway.
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Kanaan can: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500, ends heartbreak
Tony Kanaan had been so close so many times in the Indianapolis 500 until Sunday. Now he’s a winner.
- Crowd, competitors erupt in celebration for Brazilian driver
- Rookies fare well in 97th running of the Indy 500
- Top guns, again
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
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Kanaan can: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500, ends heartbreak





