A very successful boy’s track and field season continued for PORTA-AC Central as the Bluejays placed second as a team in the Class 1A Rushville Sectional and will be sending a host of athletes to the IHSA State Finals starting Thursday, May 23 at Eastern Illinois University.
The Stanford Olympia Spartans beat PORTA-AC Central in the second round of regional play 10 to 0 to end the Bluejay’s softball season at 12-11. PORTA-AC did get revenge on arch-rival Athens for a 13 to 1 April loss by knocking the Warriors off in round one of the regional by a score of 10 to 8.
The best season in quite some time for the PORTA-AC Central baseball team ended with a 5 to 3, Regional Semifinal loss to the New Berlin Pretzels. The Bluejays lost to the Pretzels 12 to 1 on April 22 which spurned PORTA-AC onto a great finish to the season. They end the year with a mark of 21-10.
An incredible ten-game winning streak has carried the PORTA-AC Central baseball team to a 20-9 regular season record becoming the first Bluejay team in the last twenty years to reach the twenty-win milestone.
The Jays started the season slowly and were 5-5 at the end of March and 10-8 in middle of April. Following a disheartening loss to New Berlin on April 22 the team turned things around and has not lost since.
The PORTA-AC Central track and field teams wrapped up their regular season competitions by sweeping to team victories in both the boys and girls meets at their own PORTA Last Chance Meet last Monday.
For the boys, Jacob Vogel won the 100 and placed second in the 200, Noah Hardy placed second in the 400, Daxton Trueblood won the 800, Justin Zimmerman finished third in the 800, Kade Parker won the 1600, Logan Baker was second in the 110 hurdles, Avery Jockisch was third in the 110 hurdles, Bryson Schachtsiek won the 300 hurdles and the long jump, Owen Gilbert placed third in the discus, and Isaac Rennecker won the high jump and the triple jump. The 4x200 relay team of Hunter Stroupe, Schachtsiek, Rennecker and Jacob Vogel, the 4x400 relay team of Stroupe, Quincy Stuhmer, Cael Cotner and Trueblood and the 4x800 relay team of Justin Zimmerman, Stuhmer, Parker and Trueblood all won first place in their races.
Three PORTA-AC Central Bluejay senior athletes signed their name on the dotted line to compete at the college level last Wednesday as part of National Signing Day.
Jayce Privia signed with McKendree University to play basketball. The Bearcats are a Division II school located in Lebanon. Trace Donnan inked with Augustana and will play golf. The Vikings are a Division III school located in Rock Island. Finally, Haven Gronewold signed to run cross country and track and field with Stetson University. The Hatters are Division I and are located in Deland, Florida.
The PORTA-AC Lady Bluejay Volleyball team won twice at home to push their season mark to 7-3.
Against a solid New Berlin Pretzel team, the Lady Jays snuck away with a straight set victory by scores of 25-21, 25-22. PORTA-AC had an easier time with Springfield Lutheran, winning 25-18, 25-13. In that one, Mikaela Clary had five kills, four aces and five digs to lead the way. Karlie Hoke added three kills and seven aces, Carson Arthalony had three kills and two blocks, Cassie Cox had four kills and one block. Jayce Privia had nine digs, Chloe Maltby had seven digs and Caitlyn DeFreezer had 11 assists for the winners.
On a rainy Monday, the PORTA-AC Central Golf Team headed west to play at Plum Creek Golf Course against the host West Central Cougars and the Brown County Hornets. PORTA-AC came home with two wins that evening after shooting a team score of 167. Brown County finished 2nd with a 181, and the Cougars followed up with 191. The medalist was Rioth Wort from Brown County with an even par 36. The Bluejays were led by Trace Donnan’s 38. He was followed by Keagan Dale at 41, Brody Pettit with a 42, and Brady Kinney with a 46. Griffin McClure posted a 47 and Brody Landon fired a 48. According to Coach Neil Gurnsey “the conditions were very tough today. It rained on the boys all afternoon and that can take a toll on players. I was very proud of them and how they held their composure on the course.”
The PORTA-AC Central high school volleyball team has started the 2023 season with a 4 and 3 record going 2-3 in the very competitive Springfield Lutheran Invite.
The Lady Bluejays opened the season with a two-set road win over Lewistown, knocking off the Indians 25-23 and 25-18. At the Lutheran Invite, the Jays started with a tough three-set loss to class 3A Chatham Glenwood, losing 25-21, 21-25, 13-15.
A 5-0 week for the AC-Central-PORTA junior high baseball team culminated with winning the Virginia Tournament. The Knights started the week with a 13-1 short game win over Illini Central at home. AC scored in all four innings of the game and Trenton Bushnell did not allow a hit while striking out ten batters. Colton Nelson and Calob Cass each had two hits while Tate Karrick, Braxton Stice, Wesley Sampson, Wyatt Hays, Jackson Richard, Owen Gronewold, and Bushnell all had one hit.