Seventh grade boys basketball participate in Clay Invitational

Story by Griffin Hall

On January 31, the seventh grade Clay boys basketball team will be taking part and hosting the Clay Invitational. They boys will be playing against three other contending teams: Carmel, Creekside, and Fishers.

The players are looking forward to playing all three teams again after their previous losses. 

“I believe,” Zach Gish, seventh grade, said, “I will perform to the best of my abilities since we have been preparing for this tourney since we lost to these three teams.”

One way the boys are preparing for the tournament is by running sprints to get in shape, Max Engelking, seventh grade, said.

“I believe Max Engelking will be a key player,” Gish said, “because he can hit those long-range jumpers, and that's what we need.” 

This will give them points and hopefully put them in the lead of the games.

Engelking believes the boys will stand out in the invitational because they play good defense. He believes this will give them a big advantage against the other teams.

Gish and Engelking both agree that their team goal is too win it all after losing to these teams already. They believe that their team is both physically and mentally prepared for this tournament.

Games are at 9 and 11 a.m. The price of admission is $5, and the concession stands will be open.

Eighth grade basketball plays Mt. Vernon in season opener

Boys tennis, boys cross country, eighth grade volleyball celebrate with Walk of Champions

Sports Update: 7th Grade Baseball

Date of Competition:  
4/23/14

Opponent:  
Noblesville West

Score:  
Clay 8 - Noblesville West 7

Sports Update: 8th Grade Baseball

Date of Competition:  
4/23/14

Opponent:  
Noblesville West

Score:  
Clay 16 - Noblesville West 3

Sports Update: 7th Grade Softball

Date of Competition:  
4/22/14

Opponent:  
Noblesville East

Score:  
Clay 5- Noblesville East 4

Sports Update: 7th Grade Baseball

Date of Competition:  
4/22/14

Opponent:  
Mount Vernon

Score:  
Clay 8 - Mount Vernon 4

Coach Quote: 
According to Coach Derek Dial, Akira Nagamine, seventh grade, did an outstanding job during the game, while Drew Olssen, seventh grade, had six strikeouts.

Sports Update: 8th Grade Baseball

Date of Competition:  
4/22/14

Opponent:  
Mount Vernon

Score:  
Clay 8 - Mount Vernon 4

Coach Quote: 
"Great bounce-back win after a disappointing loss on Monday. I'm proud of the guys who got in the line up for the first time today," Coach Craig Dragash said.

Player Quote:  
"The game was well-played by our offense and defense. It was great to see the comeback after a rough game yesterday," Jake McDonald, eighth grade, said.

Sports Update: Boys Track

Date of Competition:  
4/21/14

Opponent:  
Zionsville and Riverside

Score:  
Riverside - 60, Clay - 59, Zionsville 37

Coach Quote: 
"Last night we had a great showing," Coach Scott Kenney said. "The athletes are pushing themselves, and it is great to see."

Sports Update: 7th Grade Baseball

Date of Competition:  
4/21/14

Opponent:  
Zionsville

Score:  
Clay 0 - Zionsville 10

Coach Quote: 
Coach Derek Dial said he was proud of his pitcher's performance, seventh grader Garrett Jones.

Sports Update: 8th Grade Baseball

Date of Competition:  
4/21/14

Opponent:  
Zionsville

Score:  
Clay 0 - Zionsville  1

Coach Quote: 
"We had many chances but couldn't score," Coach Craigh Dragash said. "Our pitching and defense were outstanding. I'm confident, if we played them again with our 'A game,' we would have come out on top."

Player Quote:  
"We did not have our greatest game," Luke Barnes, eighth grade, said. "We left a lot of runners on base, and if we would have hit the ball better, we would have had a better chance."

Seventh grade softball kicks off their season

by Ashley Matheis

Seventh grade softball has kicked off their season.

“I am excited because I haven’t played in a while, and it will be fun to see how I do,” Olivia Karpinski, seventh grade, said.

Lenna Gottschild, seventh grade, said, “I am very excited because it will be my very first softball game.”

Although there are some players on the team that have never played, there are also some experienced team members.

“I played for five years when I was younger, and then I stopped for a while to focus on tennis. Now, I’m back at it,” Karpinski said.

The girls work well together, even though they didn’t know each other before the season started.

“It’s very fun to work together because they are all nice and energetic,” Karpinski said.

During practice, the girls will run a lap around the school through the halls or outside. Then, they stretch and work on their technique and progression for throwing and batting. Finally, they play games to help with speed and accuracy. Sometimes, they even play a wiffle ball game to practice playing an actual game.

They played their first game on April 17, 2014 against Creekside.

According to these girls, they like softball.

“It’s fun because you get to be with your friends and enjoy the fresh air,” Karpinski said.

Gottschild also enjoys it. “I think it’s fun because it keeps you moving, and it puts you in a good mood,” she said.

The seventh grade teams plays again on Monday, April 21 at Noblesville West Middle School.

Seventh grade baseball teams plays first game

By Josie Pierce

Baseball season has just begun here at Clay Middle School. All the players are ready to get out on the field and show Clay pride. Getting to the first game has not been easy though. Struggling with the occurring weather, the boys have had to practice inside do to the weather conditions.

"It's very different from practicing outside. We have many restrictions inside, and you don't get the same feeling. We also can't work on many vital skills because of space," Michael Aikman, seventh grade, said .

But nothing will stop the Clay Trojans.

"Even though we have had to practice inside, this will not affect our mental or physical game. We have all played baseball before, and we know just how to get the job done," Carlton Webb, seventh grade, said.

The boys were thrilled to begin the season. According to Aikman, "All five days of tryouts were very nerve-wracking. You could tell all of us just wanted to make the team."

The boys received the news after tryouts about who made the team.

"When I found out that I made the team, I was really happy and relieved. I was proud that all my hard work had paid off. I was also happy for all my other buddies who made the team as well," Webb said.

The Clay Trojans played their first game on April 16, against Noblesville Middle School.

"I am confident we will win our first game. Each one of us have worked really hard during practice to prepare for our first game," said Aikman.

Already, the Trojans have developed a cohesive team.

"We are all really good friends and get along well. I think that this chemistry will be an advantage to our team," said Webb.

Sports Update: Boys Track

Date of Competition:  
4/17/14

Opponent:  
Fall Creek Valley

Score:  
Clay 70 - Fall Creek Valley 39

Sports Update: Girls Track

Date of Competition:  
4/17/14

Opponent:  
Fall Creek Valley

Score:  
Clay 82 - Fall Creek Valley 32

Sports Update: 7th Grade Baseball

Date of Competition:  
4/17/14

Opponent:  
Carmel Middle School

Score:  
Clay 6- Carmel 3

Coach Quote: 
"We had a strong defensive performance by Garrett Jones. Our team played well as a unit," Coach Derek Dial said.

Player Quote:  
"I thought we played well. Our defense was very good," Luke Heady, seventh grade, said.

Sports Update: 8th Grade Baseball

Date of Competition:  
4/17/14

Opponent:  
Carmel Middle School

Score:  
Clay 9 - Carmel 3

Coach Quote: 
"We played well for our first time out.  Our defense had no errors, and we had 13 hits.  Looking forward to getting into the meat of our schedule," Coach Craig Dragash said.

Player Quote:  
"I really enjoyed winning the game especially because it was Carmel," Dylan Page, eighth grade, said.