Spartans Defend The Homestead

Warsaw and Homestead were about as even as it could get on the track Tuesday, but key wins in distance events made the difference in a 68-64 Homestead girls track win.

Warsaw won eight of the 16 events to Homestead’s seven, but were exposed in some of its weaker areas and beaten head-to-head in some of its strengths.

Homestead swept the 300 hurdles, and took first in the 800, mile and two-mile, areas where Warsaw normally is very strong. Grace Walther won the 800 (2:22.9) and the mile (5:15.7), outrunning Warsaw’s Allison Miller and Mia Beckham in the half-mile and Hannah Dawson in the mile. A 11:30.7 win by Madison Distelrath in the two-mile, with Saige Norris in second, put Homestead in command, and the final 4×400 win by the Spartans (4:10.5) iced the victory.

Warsaw was very strong in the field, taking all five first-place marks. Emily Bailey won both the shot put (34-0) and the discus (89-4), Sam Alexander claimed a 17-2 win in long jump, Alexie Day a 5-4 high jump win with Morgan Bruner in second, and Joelle Messenger (8-0) and Morgan Buriff one-two in pole vault.

Audrey Rich was a double winner in the 100 (12.7) and 200 (25.8) dashes, and the 4×800 relay of Beckham, Miller, Anna Craig and Brooke Rhodes ran a 9:42.7 to open the meet.

Homestead also stole valuable points in the 4×100 relay, where Warsaw was ruled disqualified.

Warsaw (2-1) will open Northern Lakes Conference action Tuesday, April 12, with a triangular with Plymouth and host Elkhart Memorial.

Riley Silences Warsaw Softball

A day late, South Bend Riley still maintained its agenda, shutting out Warsaw, 3-0, in the softball opener for the Tigers.

Played Tuesday rather than the originally scheduled Monday because of water issues with the field on Riley’s campus, the Wildcats held the Tigers hitless in the game. Riley managed six hits in its win. Full statistics were not made available from the game.

Warsaw (0-1) will travel back to St. Joseph County today, Wednesday, for a matchup with Mishawaka.