IHSAA GIRLS TRACK & FIELD SECTIONAL

FC advances 6 individuals, 2 relay units

FC senior Christine Talhelm (54) commands a comfortable lead over her nearest challenger, Warren Central's Breauna Turner (left), as she crosses the finish line to win the 800-meter run at the IHSAA Shelbyville Sectional venue. Photos by Mike Ayers.

The Franklin Central girls' track and field team advanced six individuals in seven events and a pair of relay foursomes during competition at the IHSAA Shelbyville Sectional gathering on Tuesday, May 13.

The top four placers from sectionals at Columbus East, Connersville, Franklin County and Shelbyville will compete for State Finals berths at the Shelbyville Regional on Tuesday, May 20.

Senior Christine Talhelm legged out a victory in the 800-meter run to supply Franklin Central with its lone sectional individual championship, while Brittay Aurelio missed an event title in the 400-meter dash by only a whisker.

** Talhelm clocked 2:20.01 to find the finish line in the 800 grind more than three seconds ahead of runner-up Breauna Turner, a Warren Central sophomore. Flashes' freshman Alex Green nabbed the final qualifying spot in the event, placing fourth behind the Warriors' Corteese Berry , a senior.

** In the 400 sprint, Aurelio and Warren Central freshman Latisha Martin both hit the finish line with identical 1:01.40 readings, with Martin judged to barely have nipped the FC junior.

Sophomore LaTeasha Hill made it to the regional round by claiming No. 3 showings in both the shot put and discus events. Other third-place finishes were secured by sophomore Dani Sullivan in the 1,600-meter run and by FC's 4 x 400-meter relay combine consisting of Talhelm, Green, Aurelio and senior Jessie Staats.

In addition to Green in the 800-meter run, other Franklin Central fourth-place finishes were recorded by sophomore Lizzie Adams in the 3,200-meter test and by FC's 4 x 800-meter baton unit that included Sullivan, Adams, junior Karleen Ritchie and sophomore Sammie Walsh.

In the team competition, Warren Central dominated with 181 points, followed by Roncalli with 93, New Palestine 79, Franklin Central 76 and Greeenfield-Central at 70 to round out the top five schools among 13 that scored.

The IHSAA State Finals are scheduled for Friday, May 30, at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex on the I.U. campus in Bloomington.

IHSAA Shelbyville Sectional results:
Team scores: Warren Central 181, Roncalli 93, New Palestine 79, Franklin Central 76, Greenfield-Central 70, Shelbyville 54, Beech Grove 27, Eastern Hancock 21, Scecina 9, Triton Central 8, Morristown 3, Howe 1, Lutheran 1. 

FC scoring:
800-meter run – 1. Christine Talhelm, 2:20.01; 4. Alex Green, 2:26.74.
400-meter dash – 2. Brittany Aurelio, 1:01.40; 8. Jessie Staats, 1:05.05.
1,600-meter run – 3. Dani Sullivan, 5:41.98.
Shot put – 3. LaTeasha Hill, 34-09.
Discus – 3. LaTeasha Hill, 109-01.
4 x 400-meter relay – 3. FC (Christine Talhelm, Brittany Aurelio, Jessie Staats, Alex Green), 4:10.93.
3,200-meter run – 4. Lizzie Adams, 12:17.70.
4 x 800-meter relay – 4. FC (Dani Sullivan, Karleen Ritchie, Lizzie Adams, Sammie Walsh), 10:22.44.
High jump – 5. Stephanie Shimp, 4-10.
Pole vault – 5. Morgan Wright, 7-06; 7. Abby Busenburg, 7-00.
100-meter hurdles – 6. Breanna Hayden, 17.32.
300-meter hurdles – 6. Jourdin Heinrichs, 50.4; 8. Breanna Hayden, 51.72.
4 x 100-meter relay – 8. FC (Jourdin Heinrichs, Dystany Riley, Morgan Wright, Madison Sorley), 56.27. 

Lutheran scoring:
4 x 800-meter relay – 8. Lutheran (Sarah Bredensteiner, Katie Fox, Julia Kittle, Erin Pelko), 11:46.73.

Franklin Central's Brittany Aurelio and Warren Central's Latisha Martin will arrive at the finish line of the 400-meter dash in an identical timing of 1:01.40. It will be determined that Martin actually nips Aurelio by .0031 of a second. Both will advance to upcoming regional competition at Shelbyville on Tuesday, May 20. Click here for additional pictures.

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PREP BASEBALL

FC tallies pivotal run against Pike in 8th 

Most book readers like a tale that has a good beginning and a good ending. While Franklin Central's 3-2 victory over Pike on Tuesday, May 13, wasn't necessarily a storybook candidate, the visiting Flashes did score very early and again late in this nail-biting edition of Conference Indiana baseball.

Taking a quick peek at the final chapter, Franklin Central tallied what proved to be the winning run in the top of the eighth inning in a game that was stalemated at 2-all following seven innings of regulation play.

The solo run came in workmanlike fashion, with junior Jake Hartley opening the frame by drawing a walk. Sophomore David Willoughby entered as a pinch runner and was quickly bunted over to second base by junior Zach Sherwood. Willoughby advanced to third base on a ground out, Tommy Winders was hit by a pitch and the senior immediately stole second.

That brought up freshman Jesse Brown, who entered the game in the sixth inning at first base. Brown responded to the opportunity by stroking a single that plated Willoughby with the go-ahead run.

FC senior Kyle Blanck toed the pitching rubber for the bottom of the eighth, with Pike's lead-off batter opening with a single. However, the senior right-hander induced an infield pop up and a ground out, before registering a game-ending strikeout.

Blanck's relief effort complimented a creditable pitching performance by starter Hartley. The southpaw worked the first seven innings, surrendering five hits while striking out eight Pike batters and walking four. One of the two Red Devils' runs – scored in the third and fifth innings – was earned.

Franklin Central populated the scoreboard in the top of the initial inning by sending a pair of runners across home plate after Pike pirtching had set down the first two Flashes' batters. Sean Winter then earned a free pass and Hartley followed with a two-base blow that drove in the junior base-runner. The second run scored on an infield error.

The two teams wound up with six hits apiece, with Hartley's run-producing knock in the first stanza the only extra-base hit of the game.

The victory allowed Franklin Central to close out Conference Indiana play with a winning mark at 4-3. The Flashes are now 10-10 on the season. FC will participate in the Carmel Invitational on Friday and Saturday, May 16-17.

Score by innings:
Franklin Central	200	000	01	--	3	6	2
Pike	001	010	00	--	2	6	3
Winning pitcher – Jake Hartley
Save – Kyle Blanck
Losing pitcher – Hoffman

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PREP SOFTBALL

Flashes' Bell ‘perfect' against Brownsburg

There are few cracks in the pitching armor of Chanda Bell. In fact, against Brownsburg on Tuesday, May 13, there were absolutely none as the Franklin Central senior right-hander fashioned a perfect game in helping the Flashes to a 2-0 non-conference victory.

Bell appears to be at peak form as Franklin Central prepares for IHSAA post-season play. Eight days earlier, the Kentucky-bound recruit faced the minimum of 24 batters in no-hitting Lutheran over eight frames in the semifinal round of the Marion County Softball Tournament.

This time out, Bell fanned a dozen while facing only 21 Brownsburg batters during a seven-inning regulation game.

Seniors Leah Prewitt and Hannah Taylor contributed hits to support Bell's circle gem, with Prewitt driving in one run and Taylor scoring once for the Flashes.

The victory upped Franklin Central's campaign log to 21-4. The Flashes are slated to play on consecutive days (May 14-16) – against visiting Roncalli on Wednesday, at Lawrence North on Thursday and at Martinsville on Friday to close out the regular season.

In junior varsity action, Franklin Central whitewashed Brownsburg 9-0 to up its record to 14-1. Blair Martin tossed a two-hitter while striking out seven and walking none. At the plate, Ebby Campbell collected three hits, drove in one run and scored twice and Nicole Frazier rapped a double among two hits, plated a run and crossed the dish two times.

In a C-Team match-up, FC walloped Decatur Central 15-0 in five innings for its seventh win in eight outings. Candace Kirtley fired a no-hitter and struck out six, while Courtney Rizzi contributed a two-base knock among three hits, drove in a pair of runs and scored three times.

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FC edges Pike, bags share of conference title

FC senior Leah Prewitt relaxes on second base after cracking a key one-out double during the Flashes' belated rally in the top of the seventh inning. Photo by Mike Ayers. Click here for additional pictures.

The Franklin Central girls' softball team rallied in the top of the seventh inning to nudge Pike 3-1 in a pivotal Conference Indiana match-up on Monday, May 12, that saw the Flashes claim at least a share of their third straight loop championship.

A seat in the 2008 throne room did not come easy for Franklin Central. After losing its first conference game to Bloomington South (1-0) back in mid-April, FC reeled off six straight victories and needed every one of them to wind up in a first-place tie with Southport atop the standings. Both the Flashes and Cardinals registered 6-1 conference marks.

Franklin Central measured Southport by scoring three runs in the top of the 10t h inning on Tuesday, April 22, in a game that was scoreless for nine innings. The Perry Township school clinched its share of the conference title by blanking Columbus North 4-0 at the same time the Flashes were engaged in the dogfight with Pike.

The FC-Pike confrontation saw all goose eggs on the scoreboard for five innings, with the Red Devils breaking through for an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth frame. That left the Flashes needing one run in the top of the seventh inning to knot the score, or at least two runs for a possible victory.

Franklin Central's come-from-behind effort featured an unusual twist – an umpire's call reversal that favored the Flashes, impacting FC's three-run outburst in what could have been the visitors' final at-bat inning.

FC's rally began when junior Mandy Leming earned a one-out walk. Senior Leah Prewitt followed with a two-base blow that advanced Leming to third base. The bases became loaded when senior Joy Perry reached first base on a fielder's choice.

Franklin Central's next batter, freshman Leah Hall, hit a ball over Pike's drawn-in infield and beyond the reach of being caught. That would have plated at least the tying run. However, the umpire invoked the infield fly rule, which would have been the second out of the inning. After consultation, the umpires reversed the call, allowing Hall a base hit and leaving the bases still loaded. Junior Kayla Knight followed with an opposite-field single that accounted for what proved to be an insurance run in helping the Flashes to a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh stanza.

FC junior Jennifer DeMotte, who toiled in the circle the entire game, shut down Pike in the home half of the decisive seventh to preserve the victory. On the game, the right-hander surrendered six hits and plucked one batter while striking out seven and walking none.

In the past three seasons, Franklin Central has posted a 21-2 ledger in Conference Indiana pairings to account for one outright championship and two title shares. Coach Kathy Stricker's contingents posted an 8-1 mark in 2006, 7-0 in 2007, and the 6-1 reading this season.

Franklin Central, ranked No. 8 in the statewide Class 4A poll, now stands 20-4 on the campaign, with four non-conference games remaining before the start of IHSAA post-season play. Next outing for the Flashes will be at Brownsburg on Tuesday, May 13, in a 5 p.m. start.

In the jayvee clash between FC and Pike, the Flashes cruised to a 20-1 victory to up their season log to 13-1. Skylar Chocklett picked up the pitching win, yielding two hits while striking out four and walking none. Chocklett also collected a double among four hits, drove in a trio of runs and scored three times. Nicole Frazier contributed a triple among two hits and knocked in four runs.

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PREP GIRLS TENNIS

FC secures deciding point in marathon match

The Franklin Central girls' tennis coach, Bruce Torgersen, saw what he liked in the Flashes' 3-2 victory over Bloomington South on Tuesday, May 13.

“All seven girls played their most intense, positive matches of the season,” Torgersen said. “We were focused throughout the night and that should serve us well heading into sectional play.”

Franklin Central needed a deciding point attained in one of two marathon matches to put away the visiting Panthers. Senior Brittney Muston and sophomore Rachelle Smith survived a two-hour battle in securing the team's third point by winning a pivotal third set at No. 2 doubles.

At No. 1 singles, FC senior Angela DeCamp toiled for two hours and 10 minutes before dropping an exhaustive three-set decision.

Franklin Central seniors Katie Oldknow and Heather Summitt earned team points at Nos. 2 and 3 singles, respectively.

Singles:
No. 1 – Angela DeCamp, FC, lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
No. 2 – Katie Oldknow, FC, won 6-3, 7-5
No. 3 – Heather Summitt, FC, won 6-3 6-3

Doubles:
No. 1 – Kelsey Pieratt-Jackie Schmaltz, FC, lost 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 – Brittney Muston-Rachelle Smith won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

The victory allowed Franklin Central to finish Conference Indiana play at 4-3, and in third place behind Columbus North and Bloomington North. The Flashes' season ledger stands at 7-7.

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Flashes squeeze past Hornets in site switch

In a non-conference pairing originally scheduled for the Beech Grove courts, the Franklin Central girls' tennis team managed to nudge the Hornets 3-2 at the Flashes' facility on Monday, May 12.

Producing FC points were seniors Katie Oldknow and Heather Summitt in singles play and the combo of seniors Kelsey Pieratt and Jackie Schmaltz in doubles action.

Singles
No. 1 – Angela DeCamp, FC, lost in three sets 1-6, 6-1 and 6-4.
No. 2 – Katie Oldknow, FC, won 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).
No. 3 – Heather Summitt, FC, won 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles
No. 1 – Kelsey Pieratt-Jackie Schmaltz, FC, won 6-0, 6-0.
No. 2 – Stephanie Spears-Kelsey Underwood, FC, lost 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

The Franklin Central jayvee squad bested Beech Grove 7-4. Singles winners for the Flashes included Rachelle Smith, Brittney Muston, Meagan Grant and Andrea DeCamp. Doubles points were secured by Amanda Church-Jennifer Gunderman, Whitney Rice-Miranda Huddleston and Carly Cecil-Lauren Thurston.

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MARION COUNTY BOYS TRACK & FIELD MEET

Franklin Central distance ace Scott Lasiter makes his way around the North Central High School oval where 14 schools are vying for the title in the Marion County Boys' Track & Field Championships. Lasiter will capture top honors in the 3,200-meter run and help the Flashes to third place in the 4 x 800-meter relay. Photos by Mike Ayers.

FC's Lasiter, Knox nab individual wins

FC's Matt Knox clears the pole vault bar during competition at the Marion County Boys' Track & Field Meet. The junior will wind up besting the field in the event. Click here for additional pictures.

The 64th staging of the Marion County Boys' Track & Field Championships for Franklin Central and others in the 14-school field was one for the books – not the record books, though.

The competition at North Central on Friday, May 9, was contested a day late due to steady rains 24 hours prior when the meet was originally scheduled. The late afternoon and evening presentation did feature the following:

• A steady meet-long drizzle that limited record-setting to only one event.
• The state's top-ranked boys' track and field contingent at meet's conclusion resting in the runner-up spot.
• Two Franklin Central participants, in particular, experiencing difficulties during their performances.

During the umbrella-friendly setting, No. 3 Ben Davis – one of the state's top-four ranked teams on display – harvested five of 16 first-place event finishes in totaling 117 points to claim the championship. No. 1 Pike won only two events and settled for the county bonanza's runner-up spot with 96 points. No. 4 Lawrence North was third with 95 points, followed by defending champion and No. 2 Warren Central at 83.

Franklin Central – fueled by the championship performances of juniors Scott Lasiter in the 3,200-meter run and Matt Knox in the high jump – tallied 34 points in rounding out the top tier in seventh place. No. 12 North Central and No. 14 Lawrence Central tied for fifth with 60 points apiece.

Lasiter bested the field in the longest individual race of the evening with a clocking of 9:33.51. That was more than three seconds faster than Pike's Ben Bizuneh, timed in 9:36.96.

The FC distance ace also contributed the third leg to the Flashes' third-place 4 x 800-meter relay quartet that included seniors Michael Dunten and D.J. Sloan and junior Joe Talhelm. The Flashes' baton unit was timed in 8:00.47, closing behind winner Lawrence North with a 7:58.95 clocking and runner-up Ben Davis in 7:59.65, providing a tight three-way battle down the stretch. Fourth-place North Central was well behind in fourth at 8:06.02.

Knox earned his individual event title with a 13-foot, 6-inch catapult that reached skyward six inches above his nearest competitors, Lawrence Central's Bryan Gennett and Warren Central's Jacob Aldrich who cleared the bar at an even 13 feet.

Dunten added a fourth-place finish for the Flashes the hard way. During the 800-meter chase, he lost one of his shoes and ran about the final 300 meters shoeless on the one foot. Track observers allowed that the missing shoe may have cost the gritty veteran a couple of spots in crossing the finish line in 2:01.76, behind winner Barry Wilkins of North Central (1:58.75), Perry Meridian runner-up Julian Merkison (1:59.34) and Pike's third-place scorer Craig Jordan (2:00.36).

Franklin Central senior Curtis Tackett and sophomore Michael Whyde rounded out the Flashes' scoring. Tackett was seventh in the shot put and Whyde eighth in 800-meter run.

FC's Brian Higdon, filling in on the 4 x 100-meter relay foursome, found his substitute duty quite painful. The junior took a tumble during a baton exchange that left him sprawled on the track for an extended time. He required trainer assistance, finally leaving the oval with noticeable scrapes on his back and shoulders.

Decatur Central's Bob Belden established the meet's lone record, uncorking a 192-foot, 7-inch toss in the discus. That was nearly 22 feet better than Lawrence North runner-up Brandon Pounds at 170 feet, 10 inches.

Marion County Boys' Track & Field Meet results:

Team scores – Ben Davis 117, Pike 96, Lawrence North 95, Warren Central 83, North Central 60, Lawrence Central 60, Franklin Central 34, Perry Meridian 27, Roncalli 24, Decatur Central 19, Southport 18, Beech Grove 3, Brebeuf Jesuit 3, Park Tudor 1.

FC scoring:
3,200-meter run – 1, Scott Lasiter, 9:33.51.
High jump – 1. Matt Knox, 13-6.
4 x 800-meter realy – 3. FC (Michael Dunten, Joe Talhelm, Scott Lasiter, D.J. Sloan), 8:00.47.
800-meter run -- 4. Michael Dunten, 2:01.76, 8. Michael Whyde, 2:03.30.
Shot put – 7. Curtis Tackett, 49-04. 

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MARION COUNTY GIRLS TRACK & FIELD MEET

Flashes come up short with depleted line-up 

FC sophomore LaTeasha Hill watches her effort in the discus sail toward a third-place finish in the Marion County Track & Field Meet. Photo by Mike Ayers. Click here for additional pictures.

Franklin Central's performance in the 2008 Marion County Girls Track & Field Meet at North Central on Tuesday, May 6, was short-circuited due primarily to a sparse roster.

The Flashes, with a handful of regulars not on the trip, registered only 12 points in placing in the No. 14 position in the 16-school affair.

The host Panthers claimed the championship by totaling 128.5 points, followed by Warren Central with 108, Lawrence North 85.5, Perry Meridian 49 and Ben Davis at 40.5 in rounding out the top five scoring teams.

Franklin Central scored in three events:

** Sophomore LaTeasha Hill placed third in the discus with a toss of 119 feet and wound up sixth in the shot put with a 34-foot, 4-inch effort.

** The 4 x 800-meter relay unit consisting of sophomore Dani Sullivan, junior Kassandra Gearlds and sophomores Sammie Walsh and Lizzie Adams placed sixth with a clocking of 10:11.59.

The next action for the FC girls' track & field squad is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, when the IHSAA post-season unfolds at the Shelbyville Sectional.

Marion County Girls' Track & Field Meet results:

At North Central
Team scores: North Central 128.5, Warren Central 108, Lawrence North 85.5, Perry Meridian 49, Ben Davis 40.5, Roncalli 39, Park Tudor 36, Lawrence Central 32, Brebeuf Jesuit 26.5, Decatur Central 20, Beech Grove 20, Pike 14, Southport 13, Franklin Central 12, Speedway and Lutheran 0.

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Coach Taylor receives Award of Excellence

Coach Pam Taylor Franklin Central

Franklin Central's Pam Taylor was presented the Jan Brown Award of Excellence on Wednesday, May 7, during the Marion County Coaches of Girls Sports Association's annual banquet.

Taylor, whose battle with breast cancer during the 2007-08 girls' basketball season at times limited her in performing her coaching duties, was recognized by the coaches' group for her career achievements.

In two decades of coaching Indiana high school basketball, Taylor has surpassed the 300-win milestone with a 317-170 overall mark. At Franklin Central the past dozen seasons, she has compiled a 166-107 record. Before becoming the FC coach, she also has taught and coached at Homestead and Tipton high schools.

Four senior athletes – two representing the county and two representing the city – were honored by the coaches' organization during a special awards program at Primo South Banquet & Conference Center . Recipients of top awards included:

** Beech Grove's Renee Masterson (cross country, track & field) – named Marion County Athlete of the Year.

** Roncalli's Elissa Mason (cross country, swimming, track & field) – named Marion County Scholar Athlete of the Year.

** Cathedral's Rose Plomin (cross country, swimming, track & field) – named City Athlete of the Year.

** Ritter's Jordan Berty (golf, soccer, swimming, tennis) – named City Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Among award nominees honored at the MCCGSA banquet was Franklin Central's Christine Talhelm, selected as the Flashes' outstanding senior female athlete. Talhelm has excelled as a four-year member of the FC cross country and track & field programs.

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FC grad Miller top GLIAC freshman player

Erica Miller Ashland University

Former Franklin Central softball standout Erica Miller has been named Freshman of the Year in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The Ash land University outfielder was presented the award at a ceremony before the Eagles' opening-round game on Friday, May 2, against Grand Valley State in the GLIAC tournament in Midland, Michigan.

Ash land's lead-off hitter from day one, Miller was a catalyst of the Ash land offense. Her 53 base hits are tied for third most in the league, while her .363 batting average is the eighth-best figure, and tops for her team. She ranks second in the conference in hits per game and also is tied for the team lead with 28 runs scored, while starting all 42 games.

Miller also leads Ash land with 10 doubles and a .465 slugging percentage. She led the Eagles in batting average, hits with 57, total bases with 73 and multiple-hit games with 16, along with being tied for first on the team in runs scored, stolen bases and triples.

In addition to being named the top frosh player in the conference, Miller was selected Honorable Mention All-GLIAC. Miller is the fourth Ash land player and second in the past three years to earn the top newcomer award.

Ash land entered the post-season with a 27-15 overall record and 13-7 in the conference. The Eagles closed out the regular campaign by winning 17 of their last 21 games. In the GLIAC double-elimination tourney, the fourth-seeded Eagles won two of four games to place fourth.

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Former FC star Sheets excels at Wilmington 

Cory Sheets, Wilmington College

Wilmington College sophomore center fielder Cory Sheets has been named to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference Softball Team. One of the top lead-off hitters in the conference, the Franklin Central graduate was named All-OAC Honorable Mention.

“Cory had a great season,” said Wilmington 's head coach, Beth Floyd. “Her numbers are among the best in the conference. She played hard and played well every time she stepped on the diamond.”

Sheets led Wilmington with a .406 batting average, .558 slugging percentage, .427 on-base percentage, 30 runs scored, 56 hits, nine doubles, three triples, and 10 stolen bases. Her hits total ranked second in the OAC.

“Cory is not only the present, she is the future of our program,” Floyd said. “Her commitment to improving is the energy we will build upon.”

Sheets is the first WC softball player to receive All-OAC honors since 2002.

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FC SIGNINGS

Leah Prewitt to join IUPUI softball team

FC senior Leah Prewitt is flanked by her parents, Phillip and Bobbie Prewitt, and joined by Flashes' softball coach, Kathy Stricker, during an after-school gathering to celebrate Leah's opportunity to continue her academic and athletic careers at IUPUI. FTONEWS.com photo. Click here for additional pictures.

Franklin Central senior Leah Prewitt finally made it official on Friday, April 18. Her signed letter-of-intent paperwork was faxed from the FC Athletic Department to IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis, where the prototypical power hitter will continue her academic and athletic careers in the fall.

The packet containing forms for officially committing to the NCAA Division I softball program at IUPUI apparently was delivered to a former Prewitt family address in Franklin Township, where it sat for several days on the porch of an empty house.

Family members, teammates and coaches gathered at Franklin Central nearly 10 days earlier to celebrate Prewitt's acceptance of an athletic scholarship to attend IUPUI, although what was intended as the official signing celebration turned into a mock exercise.

In joining the IUPUI softball team, Prewitt will be joining a program in the throes of a building project under the Jaguars' third-year coach, Maggie Calcaterra.

Previously the head softball and volleyball coach for three years at Kaskaskia Community College in Centralia, Illinois, Calcaterra is intent on upgrading the IUPUI program to one that will be highly competitive in the Summit League (formerly the Mid-Continent Conference). Other softball-playing schools in the Summit alignment include Centenary (Louisiana), IP-Fort Wayne, North Dakota State, Oakland (Michigan), South Dakota State, Southern Utah, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Western Illinois.

At Franklin Central, Prewitt is in her fourth varsity season. Over the years, she has been instrumental in helping the Flashes maintain a highly successful program under the direction of Kathy Stricker.

** As a junior in 2007, FC registered a 20-6 record, including an unblemished 7-0 ledger in Conference Indiana play. Prewitt led the Flashes with 16 runs batted in, eight doubles and two home runs, while batting .300 and posting a .500 slugging percentage.

** As a sophomore in 2006, FC fashioned a 21-8 log that included winning the Marion County Tournament and winding up 8-1 atop the Conference Indiana standings. Prewitt paced the Flashes with 20 runs batted in, and also collected eight doubles while batting .287 with a .379 slugging percentage.

** As a freshman in 2005, FC put together a 17-5 record, with Prewitt grabbing 43 at-bats during the campaign. She batted .302 with a .395 slugging average that included three extra-base blows - two doubles and a triple - among 13 hits.

At the time of Prewitt's signing, Franklin Central stood 7-2 on the current season and held down the state's No. 10 ranking for Class 4A larger-classification schools. Within the next two days, the Flashes had spiraled their season mark to 11-2 by winning the annual Ben Davis Spring Classic during a two-day, eight-school tourney that saw FC knock off No. 1-ranked Pendleton Heights 7-0.

Besides playing an integral role on the Franklin Central softball team, Prewitt has been among the standouts in the Indy Diamond Chix travel program.

The daughter of Phillip and Bobbie Prewitt, Leah plans to study elementary education at IUPUI.

In addition to her parents, other family members celebrating Prewitt's opportunity at IUPUI included her sister, Elenie (a freshman member of the FC varsity softball team) and her younger brother, Brett; grandparents, Bob and Eva Monroe; an aunt, Nancy Robson; and a cousin, Ronald Robson, and his daughter, Autumn Robson.

Leah's present and former coaches participating in the celebration included Coach Stricker at Franklin Central; Sally Thompson, coach at Franklin Township Middle School; and Ed Marcum, coach of the Indy Diamond Chix travel team.

Others on hand included her softball teammates and representatives of the FC Athletic Department.

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Patrick Walters to swim at Lincoln College

FC swimmer Patrick Walters, at left, pauses while signing his national letter of intent to attend Lincoln College, a two-year community school in Illinois. Sitting alongside Walters is Jake Sexton, coach of the Lincoln swimming and diving program. FTONEWS.com photo. Click here for additional pictures.

Record-setting Franklin Central swimmer Patrick Walters has signed a national letter of intent to attend Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, where he will be joining the Lynx swimming and diving program this coming fall.

Walters attached his signature to official letter-of-intent paperwork during a signing celebration at Franklin Central High School on Tuesday, April 16.

Lincoln College is a pioneer two-year educational institution in Midwest America located in the first city named for Abraham Lincoln, before the legendary president even became a nationally known figure. The college’s athletic teams participate in the National Junior College Athletic Association, with a long tradition of Lynx athletes going on to contribute nationwide to all NCAA and NAIA levels of competition.

On hand for the signing ceremony was Lincoln College’s swimming and diving coach, Jake Sexton, a former top-flight Lynx swimmer who recently became head coach after serving four years as an assistant in the program.

At Franklin Central, Walters earned four varsity letters as a member of the Flashes’ swim team. Walters holds the school record in the 100-yard butterfly event with a time of 55.72 seconds. He also contributed to a pair of relay records as a member of the 200-yard freestyle unit (1:29.77) and the 400-yard freestyle combine (3:18.14).

During his Franklin Central career, Walters was a three-time IHSAA State Finals qualifier, advancing to the Indiana University Natatorium on the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis three straight years in the 500-yard freestyle endurance test and twice in the 200-freestyle challenge.

John Sincroft, who just finished his second season as the FC boys’ swimming and diving coach, said Walters represents the initial college signing of any of the athletes he has worked with at Franklin Central.

“Patrick will be a great addition to Lincoln College,” Sincroft said. “His tireless work ethic and drive will serve him well in the future. The Flashes’ swimming family will miss Patrick greatly.”

At Lincoln College, Walters plans initially to pursue general studies.

Others joining Patrick for the official signing were his parents, Charles and Connie Walters, several classmates and several members of the FCHS Athletic Department.

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