BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Baseball Player of the Year Carson Paulik It was a standout season for two high school baseball teams in particular in our area in 2026. North Miami won just their third sectional title ever and then followed it with their first regional title. Caston also won their third sectional title. But our RTC4 Baseball Player of the Year, Rochester senior pitcher-infielder Carson Paulik, did not attend either of those schools. Paulik singleha

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Softball Player of the Year Dalynne Bussard We had a pretty good idea whom we were picking for RTC4 Softball Player of the Year before sectionals week started. What happened during sectionals week only confirmed what we had already been thinking: Dalynne Bussard deserves it again. Bussard, a senior from Tippecanoe Valley and a University of Indianapolis recruit, is the first two-time winner in the six-year history of the award. She a

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Boys Golfer of the Year Ivan Reyes Once again, our RTC Boys Golfer of the Year is from Pioneer. But this time, it is a different player. Last year, it was Micah Rans. This year, it is Ivan Reyes. A junior, Reyes is our pick after winning medalist honors and leading his Panthers to a Hoosier North title. He also shot a 76 at the Logansport sectional to lead his team to a third-place finish and a return trip to the regional. This was a

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Boys Track Athlete of the Year Harrison Dunwoody Harrison Dunwoody added the 100 meters and the long jump to his track repertoire in 2026, but the event in which his name will be listed on the record board inside the hallway above the concession stand at Rochester High School is the 110 hurdles. And thanks to that record-breaking performance, he is our RTC4 Boys Track Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Dunwoody is a gi

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Girls Track Athlete of the Year Betty Shepherd For the third straight year, our RTC4 Girls Athlete of the Year is a 300-meter hurdler. And for the second time during that span, it is Tippecanoe Valley’s Betty Shepherd. Shepherd also was our Girls Athlete of the Year in 2024 when she made state as a sophomore. She did not make state in 2025 as friend and rival Audrey Wagner from Rochester was our Athlete of the Year. But that did not

Team includes Caston’s Johnson, Long, Winamac’s Cotner, Pioneer’s Grandstaff BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Indiana Aces travel softball team won the 12-and-under B Great Lakes National Tournament in Columbus, Ind., from July 6-10. The team went 6-1-1 over eight games to top a field of 22 teams. Front, from left – Elizabeth Grandstaff, Caroline Cotner, Aubriella Garcia, Skylar Hudson, Teagan Long. Middle – Harper Johnson, Delta Mayhill, Lillie Ridenour, Bray Byer,

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Skyler Painter Skyler Painter’s time in 4-H is coming to an end, but his career farming is just beginning. Painter is finishing his 10th year in 4-H at this week’s Fulton County 4-H Fair, and he just graduated from Caston High School. “It has meant working with my animal every year and learning responsibilities on how to deal with it,” Painter said of the meaning of 4-H just prior to the Spotlight Sale at Jud Hudkins Arena Friday. He was

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Madi Douglass won the Supreme Master Showmanship Contest at the Fulton County 4-H Fair Thursday. Madisyn Douglass became the first two-time winner of the Supreme Master Showmanship Contest at the Fulton County 4-H Fair Thursday. Douglass, who is in her ninth year in 4-H and who will be a senior at Caston in the fall, also won the Contest in 2024. McKinley Burton was the Reserve champion. To be eligible, a contestant had to win Master Show

Rochester’s Miller, Winamac’s Wegner make girls honorable mention BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Grant Bailey Kale Shotts Track Rochester senior Grant Bailey and junior Kale Shotts have been named First Team Academic All-State in boys track. In order to be honored, an athlete must be a junior or senior, must be on the sectional roster and must have a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Seniors mu

Caston’s Logan, Winamac’s Werner make third team BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Bria Rensberger Maggie Keller Lois Layer Softball Rochester’s Bria Rensberger, Winamac’s Maggie Keller and Pioneer’s Lois Layer have been named to the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana Class 1A/2A second team All-State. Rensberger went 15-2 with a 1.34 ERA in the circle. Her only losses were to Class 3A, No. 5 Roncalli a

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball The Rochester softball team earned Team Academic All-State honors for the 2025-26 season. Rochester compiled a 3.92 team GPA on a 4-0 scale, ranking 11th in the state. Both Caston and Winamac had 3.71 team GPAs and also earned the honor. The Softball Coaches Association of Indiana compiles team GPAs and gives out individual and team academic honors.

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Logan Mollenkopf London Herd Parker Zimpleman Gavin Mollenkopf Four players from sectional champions Caston were named to the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A Honorable Mention All-State team. The four players included sophomore center fielder-pitcher Logan Mollenkopf, sophomore first baseman London Herd, sophomore third baseman Parker Zimpleman and senior catcher Gavin Mol

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Gage Thomas LOGANSPORT — Gage Thomas switched it up this year at the Cass County 4-H Fair. Thomas, who will be a senior at Caston and who is in his ninth year in 4-H, had previously raised dairy wether goats almost exclusively. This time, he showed boer wether goats. He finished second and third in his two categories at the Boer Goat Show Tuesday. He called the switch from dairy to meat goats a learning experience. “I learned how to brace

Former Caston star misses softball, but has helped Bethel women in basketball turnaround BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Isabel Scales (photo provided) It happened again. A basketball team got better once Isabel Scales joined the team. Scales was one of the transformational players in the history of Caston girls basketball. She scored 1,423 points, overpowering defenders in the post, driving to the basket and showing off a sweet touch from 3-point range. She guided Cast

List includes Caston’s Mollenkopf brothers, Culver’s McCuen brothers, 3 from regional champ N. Miami BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Logan Mollenkopf Parker Zimpleman Gavin Mollenkopf Baseball Twelve RTC area baseball players were named first-team All-Hoosier North in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media Monday. In addition, another seven players were named honorable mention All-Hoosier North. Of

All-conference team includes 5 Winamac, 3 Pioneer, 3 Culver, 2 Caston, 1 NM players BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Hoosier North MVP Maggie Keller Winamac shortstop Maggie Keller was named Hoosier North MVP in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media Wednesday. Keller was one of five players from the conference champion Lady Warriors picked first-team All-Hoosier North. In addition, three Pioneer, three Culver, two Caston and one North

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Caston baseball team lost to Fort Wayne Blackhawk 12-6 Saturday in a Class 1A regional at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne to finish 21-5. Caston’s sectional title was their third in school history. Caston is 99-55 with six straight winning seasons, a conference title and two sectional titles since the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. FORT WAYNE — The Caston baseball team was leading Fort Wayne Blackhawk 2-1 in the third

Rochester’s Musselman, Heishman advance as individuals; Caston’s Chapman eliminated in playoff BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Micah Rans Ivan Reyes Owen Chapman LOGANSPORT — The Pioneer boys golf team is no fluke. One year after the Panthers advanced to the regional as a team for the first time in school history, they did it again Friday, shooting a 318 to finish third at the Logansport sectional at Dykema

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC REMINGTON — The Caston baseball team had many heroes on its way to a sectional championship. Here is a look at some of them: Eli Holloway Caston senior shortstop Eli Holloway got a second chance in his at-bat against West Central’s Teagen Holle in the bottom of the seventh inning of their Class 1A, Sectional 50 baseball final Monday, and he came up with perhaps Caston’s biggest hit. After the West Central first baseman dropped his foul po

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys track Harrison Dunwoody After setting the Rochester school record in the 100 hurdles at the Warsaw regional Thursday, senior Harrison Dunwoody now prepares for his second state finals. The state finals begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Dunwoody will take to the track at approximately 5:15 p.m. for the trials. The top nine advance to the state finals, which will occur at approximately 6:15 p.m. Dun

NM-Monroe Central game sent to Oak Hill BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball The Caston baseball team will play its Class 1A regional game against Fort Wayne Blackhawk at Carroll High School at 11 a.m. Saturday, according to an IHSAA media release Tuesday. Carroll High School is located at 3701 Carroll Road in Fort Wayne. Meanwhile, North Miami will play its Class 1A regional against Monroe Central at Oak Hill High School at 11 a.m. Saturday. Oak Hill is located at

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Caston baseball team celebrates with the sectional trophy following a 6-5 win over West Central in the Class 1A, Sectional 50 final at Tri-County’s Remington Community Park Monday. Ranked No. 5, the Comets will play Fort Wayne Blackhawk in a regional Saturday. Site and game time are to be determined. REMINGTON — For the love of all that is holy – or should we say for all that is Holle – it was time for the Caston baseball team to come

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Tucker Woolever Eli Holloway Baseball Caston 6, Tri-County 0 (Saturday): Carson Harness and Brodie Howard combined on a two-hitter, and Tucker Woolever and Lucius Edson had two hits each for the Caston baseball team in a Class 1A, Sectional 50 semifinal win over host Tri-County at Remington Park Saturday. Logan Mollenkopf added a hit and two RBIs, and Eli Holloway and L

Howard, Mollenkopf brothers all have multihit games BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Gavin Mollenkopf Carson Harness Brodie Howard Caston 6, South Newton 1 (Thursday): Brodie Howard had three hits and an RBI, and leadoff hitter Logan Mollenkopf reached base four times on a single, a double and two walks as the Caston baseball team eliminated South Newton from Class 1A, Sectional 50 for the second straight yea

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball The Caston softball team suffered a season-ending 10-4 loss to North Newton in a Class 1A, Sectional 50 quarterfinal at North White Tuesday. The team finished 11-10. Front, from left – Alex Mersch, Wrigley DeBarge, Hadlie Coffing, Jordyn Middleton, Avery Baldwin, Mia Mersch. Middle – Lexie Field, Kylee Logan, Bella Girton, manager Ellie Zartman, Audrey Ault, Abigail Apperson, Emily Rodas. Back – assistant coach Brian Logan, Ava R

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Rochester QUARTERFINALS (MONDAY) Eastern (Greentown) 8, Wabash 3 Lewis Cass 17, Manchester 3 (5 innings) SEMIFINALS (TUESDAY) Rochester 11, Eastern (Greentown) 0 Oak Hill 5, Lewis Cass 2 FINAL: Rochester vs. Oak Hill, 7 p.m. Thursday Class 3A, Sectional 20 at NorthWood QUARTERFINALS (MONDAY) Fairfield 11, Wawasee 0 (5 innings) Tippecanoe Valley 6, NorthWood 1 SEMIFINALS (TUESDAY) Fairfield 22, West Noble 1 (5 innings) Tippecanoe Valley 5, Columbia Ci

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Rochester QUARTERFINALS (MONDAY) Eastern (Greentown) 8, Wabash 3 Lewis Cass 17, Manchester 3 (5 innings) SEMIFINALS (TODAY) Rochester vs. Eastern (Greentown), 5:30 p.m. Oak Hill vs. Lewis Cass, 7:30 p.m. FINAL, 7 p.m. Thursday Class 3A, Sectional 20 at NorthWood QUARTERFINALS (MONDAY) Fairfield vs. Wawasee, 5:30 p.m. Tippecanoe Valley vs. NorthWood, 7:30 p.m. SEMIFINALS (TODAY) West Noble vs. Fairfield, 5:30 p.m. Columbia City vs. Tippecanoe Valley,

Valley’s Shepherd takes 300 hurdles title, also advances in 100 hurdles, discus; Calloway, Bailon, Sailors, Hoover also reach regional BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Kyra Doran Betty Shepherd Kyra Doran of Rochester won the long jump at the Bremen sectional Tuesday, and she also qualified for the regional in two other events by finishing in the top three. In addition, teammates Allyson Callow

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Rochester seniors Harrison Dunwoody and Mason Hisey both won Three Rivers Conference titles in a field event at Wabash May 8. But the experiences they have in their events differ greatly. Dunwoody just started long-jumping this year, and he soared 21-3 to win the title at Wabash. Given that he made the state finals in the 110 hurdles last year, it could be said that long jump is not even the event for which he is most well-known. He also

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Kyra Doran WABASH — This was happening to Kyra Doran again, and it was getting aggravating. She finished second behind Whitko’s Emerson Harper in the long jump at both the 2024 and 2025 Three Rivers Conference track meets. And going into her final jump at this year’s TRC meet at Wabash May 8, she was in second place again. Sometimes it’s about perfecting the slightest flaws in your technique. And sometimes, you just have to want it more.

Coffing, Logan hit back-to-back homers for Lady Comets BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Gracie Milam Aiden Molebash FULTON — The Culver softball team was playing a game for the ninth straight weekday against host Caston Friday. Gracie Milam is Culver’s senior catcher, and she said you can play through fatigue when you are playing for your sisters. Milam went 4 for 4 with six RBIs, including a tiebreaking g

Musall has 2 RBIs for Warriors BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball London Herd Caston 8, North Miami 5 (Friday): London Herd went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, and Parker Zimpleman and Brodie Howard added two RBIs each for the Caston baseball team in a win over North Miami at Huntington University Friday. Zimpleman and Logan Mollenkopf had two hits each as part of an 11-hit Comet attack. Howard, Eli Holloway, Gavin Mollenkopf and Tucker Woolever had one hit each. Holloway

Pioneer’s Bowditch claims 800; NM’s Towles wins long jump BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Nathan Pierzchalski Winamac’s Nathan Pierzchalski won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, and he also ran a leg on the victorious 4 x 800 relay, and Charles Disinger won both the discus and shot put to help the Winamac boys track team finish second out of eight teams at the Hoosier North boys track meet at Culver Tuesday. Winamac scored 120 points. Triton won with 135 points. Among other a

Sprinter Popejoy, distance runner Wegner win 3 titles each for Winamac; high jumper Sailors, shot putter Hoover win for NM; Caston repeats as 4 x 400 relay champs BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Aspen Moolenaar Pioneer senior Aspen Moolenaar won the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump and pole vault at the Hoosier North track meet at Culver Tuesday, helping the Lady Panthers finish in second place. Pioneer scored 109 points. Triton won with 123.5 points. The other Pione

Bowditch wins 800, 1,600, 3,200 helps Panthers finish 3rd BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Pioneer senior Aspen Moolenaar won the Fred Kinder Star of Stars Award at the Cass County Meet at Logansport Saturday after winning titles in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump and pole vault. LOGANSPORT — Pioneer senior Aspen Moolenaar might have a trophy case full of blue ribbons in track, but her win in the 100 hurdles at the Cass County Meet at Logansport Memorial Stadium

Valley draws NorthWood; Caston gets state champs; Pioneer to face No. 6 Tri-County; Argos to match up with Elkhart Christian; Culver to take on O-D BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Of the three ranked RTC area softball teams, two of them received byes during the release of the IHSAA softball draw Sunday. Meanwhile, Caston drew the defending state champions, Pioneer drew a ranked team, and undefeated Culver drew a conference rival. This is the 41st annual IHSAA softball t

Valley to meet Columbia City; Caston to face S. Newton; Pioneer to meet W. Central; Argos to face No. 2 Triton; Culver gets S. Central; Winamac to meet Jimtown after bye; NM draws defending sectional champs BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Playing in a sectional with three ranked teams, the Rochester baseball team drew one of them in their postseason opener but not before receiving a bye, according to the IHSAA draw released Sunday. Meanwhile, Class 1A, No. 6 Caston, the

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Caston senior Myli Rude signs with Grace College to continue her softball and academic careers. From left – Rutledge Rude, Myli’s brother; Jake Rude, Myli’s father; Myli; Shalena Rude, Myli’s mother; Jamison Rude, Myli’s brother. FULTON — Myli Rude said that softball has always been her sport, and it will continue to be her sport for the next four years after the Caston senior signed with Grace College to continue her athletic and academi

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys golf The Pioneer boys golf team shot a 329 and finished seventh out of 17 teams at the Logansport Invitational at Dykeman Park Golf Course Saturday. Meanwhile, Rochester shot a 356 and finished 10th, Winamac shot a 406 and placed 15th, and Caston shot a 410 and took 16th. Six of the participating schools will also play at the Logansport sectional at Dykeman Park June 5. Ivan Reyes led Pioneer with a 77, Dane Bowditch added an 80, Mic

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Myli Rude West Central 7, Caston 6 (April 10): Myli Rude hit a solo homer, and Kylee Logan had two hits and an RBI for visiting Caston in a loss to sectional rival West Central April 10. Lexie Field singled and walked and had an RBI, and Avery Baldwin singled and had an RBI. Hadlie Coffing also had an RBI. Abigail Apperson and Mia Mersch each had a hit. Mersch took the loss in the circle. She allowed 11 hits and seven runs (four

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball South Bend Riley 15, Caton 1 (5 innings, April 13): Natalie Warner singled and doubled and scored Caston’s only run in a home loss to South Bend Riley April 13. Abigail Apperson had a hit and the lone RBI. Lexie Field walked twice, and Avery Baldwin drew a walk. Warner took the loss in the circle, allowing seven hits and eight runs (five earned) in one inning. She walked none, hit two batters and struck out two. Mia Mersch pitch

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Myli Rude Kylee Logan Caston 13, Kokomo 1 (5 innings, Thursday): Kylee Logan and Myli Rude each hit an inside-the-park homer, and Hadlie Coffing pitched a two-hitter with one walk and 12 strikeouts for the visiting Lady Comets in a rout of Kokomo Thursday. Logan and freshman Audrey Ault had three hits each, and Ava Russell had a pair of singles. Lexie

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Natalie Warner Caston 4, Twin Lakes 2 (Friday): Natalie Warner pitched a three-hitter with one walk and five strikeouts, and Hadlie Coffing had the go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the sixth as the host Lady Comets handled Twin Lakes Friday. Coffing also doubled and finished with two RBIs. Mia Mersch followed Coffing’s RBI single with an RBI bunt single in the sixth. Warner and Audrey Ault also had singles. Caston won despite

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Jordyn Middleton Caston 11, North White 0 (5 innings, Monday): Jordyn Middleton doubled and drove in three runs, and Hadlie Coffing had two hits, Myli Rude and Natalie Warner had two hits each for host Caston in a win over sectional rival North White Monday. Coffing had two RBIs, and Rude, Warner, Mia Mersch, Ava Russell and Abigail Apperson had one RBI each. Kylee Logan had a double, and Audrey Ault, Emily Rodas, Ava Russell and

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Parker Zimpleman Caston 11, Triton 7 (April 10): Parker Zimpleman had three RBIs, including the go-ahead RBI on a bases-loaded walk as part of a nine-run sixth, for the Comets in a Hoosier North road win over Triton April 10. Eli Holloway had two hits and an RBI, and Tucker Woolever, Lucius Edson, Gavin Mollenkopf, London Herd and Zimpleman had one hit each as part of a seven-hit Caston attack. Woolever had two RBIs, and Gavin Mo

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Parker Zimpleman Gavin Mollenkopf Caston 11, Manchester 5 (April 11) Caston 11, LaVille 6 (April 11) Parker Zimpleman had two hits and three RBIs at the plate, and he pitched a six-hitter with three walks and two strikeouts for Caston in a win over Manchester as part of a three-way doubleheader at LaVille April 11. Brodie Howard had a pair of RBIs, and London Herd walk

L. Mollenkopf: 4 for 4 at plate, 5-hit shutout on mound in Game 2 BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Parker Zimpleman Logan Mollenkopf Tucker Woolever Caston 24, North Judson 2 (Game 1, 5 innings, Monday) Caston 17, North Judson 0 (Game 2, 5 innings, Monday) Parker Zimpleman singled and homered and had four RBIs, and Logan Mollenkopf and Eli Holloway had three hits and three RBIs each for the Comets as they routed Nort

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Peru 13, Caston 2 (5 innings, Tuesday): Logan Mollenkopf had two of Caston’s four hits and also had an RBI for the visiting Comets in a loss to Peru Tuesday. Eli Holloway added a hit and an RBI, and London Herd singled and walked twice. Carson Harness walked twice and scored twice. Brodie Howard took the loss on the mound, allowing seven hits and six runs (all earned) in two innings. He walked three and struck out two. Parker Zim

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Myli Rude Natalie Warner Caston 16, North Miami 10 (Thursday): Natalie Warner had a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth among her three hits and also drove in three runs as the Caston softball team improved to 2-0 in the Hoosier North with a win over visiting North Miami Thursday. Myli Rude added two singles and a double and four RBIs, and

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball London Herd Triton 6, Caston 4 (Thursday): London Herd singled and doubled and had three RBIs, and Eli Holloway had a hit and an RBI, but Caston suffered a Hoosier North home loss to Triton Thursday. Brodie Howard had a double and a triple, and Gavin Mollenkopf, Parker Zimpleman, Tucker Woolever and Lucius Edson had one hit each. Carson Harness was hitless, but he did walk twice. Harness pitched a complete game, allowing seven hi