Austin Smith Signs Intent to Play Quaker Baseball

Baseball

SmithSigningThursday, Senior Charlestown Pirate Slugger Austin Smith signed his letter of intent to play NCAA Division III baseball while attending Earlham College next school year.  Austin’s parents, Tim and Allison Smith, along with Pirate Head Coach Ricky Romans, gathered for the occasion and adjacent photograph.  Austin plans to major in environmental sciences and pre-engineering while attending Earlham College, which is located in Richmond, Indiana (just East of Indianapolis).  “This is a big opportunity to not only pursue my career interests, but also play baseball at the next level under coaches who push you to do your best”, commented Austin.  “Their (Earlham Baseball) facilities are new and state of the art; which also makes it exciting”, Austin added with a smile.  The Quakers play in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with familiar colleges such as Hanover, Rose-Hulman, Anderson, and Franklin.  “I’m very happy for Austin and his family.  With Austin’s frame, he has a lot of upside and potential.  He is a very hard worker and I’m sure he will be a great asset to Coach Sakosits and Earlham Baseball”, commented Coach Ricky Romans.  Follow Pirate Baseball, including Austin’s Senior year at www.PiratePride.BLUE/Baseball.

Pirates Blank Lanesville 4-0 in Opener

Baseball

WespBattingPirate Baseball hosted the Lanesville Eagles (0-1) for their season opener Monday at Charlestown HS.  The Pirates (1-0) and pitcher Kelly Rider earned the 4-0 win, holding the Eagles to a two hit shutout while provoking six errors.  Rider also rung up eight Eagle batters in five innings on the mound.  Charlestown catcher Brett Blackford, with a scoreless game, led off the home half of the 3rd inning with a single.  After Dewey Cardwell and Zach Ramirez reached on back to back Lanesville errors to load the bases, Senior Tanner Wesp hit a two-run single to score Justin Farris, courtesy runner for Blackford, and Cardwell.  The Pirates added another run off a Wesp single in the 5th inning and scored the final run on an infield error in the 6th inning that plated Farris who once again was courtesy running for Blackford.  Wesp finished the game 3-3 from the plate, including a double and three RBI’s.  “Always exciting on opening day and I thought our guys played well, especially with the limited practice time to this point.  It’s a long season and we have a lot to improve on, but it’s always nice to get a win on opening day”, commented Head Pirate Skipper Ricky Romans.  The Pirates next host Columbus East Tuesday at 6:00 pm.

Lady Pirate Softball Tops Louisville PRP

Softball

The Charlestown Lady Pirate Softball team traveled to Louisville’s Pleasure Ridge Park High School for their second match-up of the 2016 regular season.  Senior Carly Price earned the complete game shutout as Charlestown (1-1) defeated PRP 1-0 Friday evening on the road.  Price gave up four hits, and struck out six without a walk in seven innings.  The Lady Pirates finished the game scoring one run off of four hits, while committing no errors.  Mackenzie Smith and Kendall Cline each finished the game 2 for 4 at the plate for Lady Pirates. “Price was in control entire game with solid defense behind her.  Nice to get first win of season.  Looking forward to Battle of the Rock tournament next weekend”, commented Lady Pirate Head Coach John Smith.

Pirate for Life-Chad Gilbert Honored by Hall of Fame

Athletic Department

GilbertHOFSilverTeamWe all know the phrase “March Madness” is thrown around the countryside quite liberally this time of year; but if one is seriously looking for the epicenter of high school basketball in our great country, where should they look for evidence?  Attending any one of at least 150 different true rivalry regular season games maybe; or better yet, just visiting any of the 495 state tournament games in any given year.  One annual event in Indiana more than provides that evidence; as a matter of fact, it defines the very history and heritage of high school basketball in just one state……the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Annual Awards Dinner.  One thinks they know how high school basketball is celebrated in this state; but witnessing what the Indiana Hall of Fame means to high school basketball in the Hoosier state is truly a ‘religious’ experience (for lack of better words).

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inducted their 55th boys basketball class Wednesday evening inside an Indianapolis banquet hall, filled with over 1,100 lovers of high school basketball.  The Hall of Fame tapped fourteen men with the highest honor bestowed in Indiana high school basketball; among those being boys basketball all-time leading scorer, state champion, Indiana Mr. Basketball and 1990 National High School Player of the Year, Damon Bailey (Bedford North Lawrence 1990), and the consensus 1993 National College Player of the Year and longtime NBA player, Calbert Cheaney (Evansville Harrison 1989).

During the same Wednesday evening event; the Hall of Fame also, as they have since 1962, recognized 18 men as members of their 2016 Silver Anniversary Team – acknowledging their spot as top senior basketball players in Indiana 25 years ago.

Charlestown High School Pirate Basketball Alum and current Athletic Director Chad Gilbert found himself sharing Wednesday’s Hall of Fame event stage with some highly notable Indiana High School Basketball royalty; while being honored as one of those 18 men on this years Silver Anniversary team.  Gilbert’s Charlestown High School and thereafter college basketball accolades were rightfully recognized among fellow Silver Team honorees like Glen Robinson (Gary Roosevelt HS/Purdue/NBA), Alan Henderson (Brebeuf HS/Indiana/NBA), and Brian Evans (Terre Haute South/Indiana/NBA), just to name a few.

Gilbert scored 1,392 points while playing for the Pirates, helping win the 1990 Sectional and Holiday Tourney titles, setting assist and free throw records, and earning several local MVP and All-American nominations; before playing two years of college ball at Indiana State, and breaking more records and helping the University of Southern Indiana win the NCAA II 1995 National Championship.

Gilbert is the first Charlestown alum to be recognized in any way by Indiana’s Basketball Hall of Fame; and becomes another prideful chapter in the almost 100 year history of Charlestown boys basketball.  The centennial anniversary of Charlestown Pirate Basketball is scheduled to be celebrated during the quickly approaching 2017-18 basketball season.

Congratulations to Charlestown High School Pirate Basketball Alum and Athletic Director Chad Gilbert, a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame 2016 Silver Anniversary team.

Pirates Advance to Sectional Semi-Final

Boys Basketball

The IHSAA Class 3A Sectional #30 host Charlestown Pirates opened post season play Wednesday evening against the Corydon Panthers (2-22).  The Pirates started slow, tied with the Panthers at six after one before opening up to a 31-12 halftime advantage.  Charlestown (16-7) cruised in the second half to a 66-29 final, advancing themselves to Friday’s Sectional Semi-Final against Silver Creek.  Silver Creek dispatched Scottsburg in Wednesday’s second contest.  Friday’s 6:00 pm Sectional Semi-Final (all play at Charlestown’s CHS Sports Arena) will feature Brownstown versus Salem.  Senior Tanner Wesp lead the Pirate stat line Wednesday evening with 13 points and 12 rebounds against Corydon. Senior Jamal Long added 13 points and Junior Jordan Knoebel nine respectively.  CPPSB will broadcast Friday night’s Semi-Final versus Silver Creek, when the Pirates will attempt to avenge a Holiday Tourney double overtime loss to the Dragons on their floor.  Support your Pirates in Friday’s 7:30 pm Sectional Semi-Final versus arch rival Silver Creek.

Lady Pirate Softball Fund Raising for Cancer Awareness Game

Softball

The Lady Pirate Softball team will open its 2016 season with a scrimmage at Floyd Central High School on March 16th.  The scrimmage will played in honor and recognition of Cancer Awareness.  The Lady Pirate Softball team is selling t-shirts to help raise money to be donated toward cancer research.  A replica of fund raiser t-shirt and downloadable order form is available by CLICKING HERE.  All orders must be received by Monday, March 7th, 2016.  Help your Lady Pirates fund raise and recognize this very worth cause.

Annual Pirate Baseball Chili Supper & Auction this Saturday

Baseball

The annual Charlestown Pirate Baseball Chili Supper & Auction, to benefit the Pirate Baseball program, will be held this Saturday, February 27th at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.  Pleasant Ridge Church is located at 301 Gospel Road, just two block from Hwy. 403 in Charlestown.  The event will kick-off at 5:30 pm with a bowl of chili, dessert and drink for $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children (10 and under).  $1 Hot Dogs will also be available.  Chili Supper tickets will be sold in advance and at the door on February 27th.  After your chili dinner, take your chances on any of the auction items available for bid.  All proceeds from this event benefit the Charlestown High School Pirate Baseball program.

1 … 64 65 66 67 68 … 121