Spring recap: Just how good were area sports teams? Find out how each team fared

In the blink of an eye, the 2022 spring season has met its end.

There's really nothing quite like spring sports in Indiana. With multiple softball and baseball games packed into a single week, along with track meets, tennis matches and golf outings, it always feels as though it moves faster than any other season.

That's not even mentioning the variance of weather, which ranges from snow to torrential downpour or cool and breezy to blazing hot.

Packed into the timeframe was a plentitude of good fortune from all local teams. There wasn't a sport in which at least one school, between Martinsville, Mooresville, Monrovia, Eminence, Decatur Central and Indian Creek, saw success.

It's worth reflecting upon the special spring season of 2022.

Softball season was a hit

With six teams in the area, it's not often all are on the same page when it comes to generating wins. But it was the case for the area softball teams.

Of course, Mooresville was its usual self, claiming the No. 3 spot in Class 4A for the majority of the season as it powered on to a 28-4 record and sectional championship berth, making for a 55-7 record in the last two seasons.

Under first-year head coach Kala Brittain, Martinsville saw a major turnaround compared to its 2021 season. A 17-11 finish made for its best since 2018 and picking up a signature win over ranked Center Grove was pretty sweet, too.

Speaking of turnarounds, how about them Bulldogs?

More: Softball stars from Martinsville, Mooresville, DC selected to All-State teams

More: Whiteland's Debbie Hill disrupts Mooresville in sectional softball title game

Monrovia, led by impressive pitching by Athena McGinness and hitting by Ashley Lewis, had a surprising season, despite losing Savannah Payne before the season started. They certainly exceeded expectations with a 14-9 finish, and with few losses to graduation, the team shows promise for next season.

Monrovia's Morgan County rival, Eminence, handed them one of those losses. The Eels notably captured its first win over the Bulldogs in a long time with a 2-1 victory. The explosive offense they had all season, which not only guided them to a 13-10 finish, but helped them capture a conference title, allowed them to do it. Eminence had a team batting average of .351 and 9.2 runs per game.

Bringing it back to the Mid-State Conference, Decatur Central started the season ranked, but the Hawks were forced to shuffle after a 5-7 start. Ultimately, they showed the same resilience of their leader, head coach Don Ivey, battling back to win 12 of its last 16 games.

Mooresville, Martinsville excel in baseball

What a year it's been for Mooresville. Whether on the gridiron, basketball court or the diamond, the Pioneers made a habit of winning games.

The latest success story is that of the baseball team. Guided by six seniors, the Pioneers didn't initially have expectations to be one of the state's best, but it didn't take long for them to prove they were.

One sectional and Mid-State title later, the 27-4 Pioneers ended up having one of the greatest seasons Mooresville's ever had in baseball. Seeing the season come to an end at regionals was tough but was only a small part of an otherwise historic run.

More: No. 2 Mooresville shocked by Columbus East in Regional semi-final matchup

More: Mooresville stays a step ahead of Martinsville, wins first sectional title since 2004

But while Mooresville cruised through the season, Martinsville kept pace. Yes, a 15-14 record has the looks of being average, but the Artesians were a better team than their record gives them credit for.

The majority of those losses came in the middle of the season, shortly after losing senior pitcher Levi Suter from the rotation due to injury. It took some time, but Martinsville battled out of the slump, winning four straight before meeting its end against Mooresville in the sectional title game. Plus, it's notable the Artesians started 10-3.

Running to state

How about a round of applause for local track and field athletes? They deserve it.

Four schools, Martinsville, Mooresville, Decatur Central and Indian Creek, saw performers make it to the state finals between the boys and girls teams. But many accumulated plenty of accolades along the way.

More: Martinsville distance star Martin Barco finishes season on podium

More: Spotlight shines on seniors as Martinsville, Mooresville compete at track state finals

Starting with the Artesians, Martin Barco made waves in his first season of competition, placing fifth in the mile run at state, capturing regional and sectional titles in the event. Hanna Reuter made a senior stand with a season best in the 400, and Alli Taylor tied her own Martinsville record in the pole vault at the state finals.

For the Pioneers, an injury affected star runner Alysha Bradford from running at state, but the senior, Indiana State commit dominated on the path to the big stage, winning the 400 at regionals and sectionals, while also taking the 200 at sectionals.

More: Reuter, Taylor ready to represent Martinsville one last time at IHSAA state track finals

More: Martin Barco has been running his whole life, the state finals is just his next stop

There's also much to note about the way Madelynn Denny battled her way to the state finals, and how distance runner Nate Burns went from state finals call back to 14th place finisher in the 3,200-meter.

All of Monrovia's girls' runners may have come up short at regionals, but they displayed excellence the whole season, including at sectionals. Hurdles star Joslyn Young captured a third sectional title in the 300-meter hurdles, and the 4x100-meter team ran a Monrovia best 51.82 seconds. Whitney Willett also claimed a sectional title in the discus.

Decatur Central also had two of its own make their way to state, with shot putters Javion Jones and Aliseonna Garnett finishing 17th and 14th at the finals.

Looking ahead

Golf still has yet to conclude, but there's success there too, with Decatur Central advancing its way to regionals and Monrovia's Titus Boswell doing the same.

Either way, the 2022 spring was an exciting one for programs in and around Morgan County. But as one season comes to an end, another draws closer. The fall season isn't as far as it may seem. Come August, new hopes and expectations will be abroad.

More: Ready for football? Here's where area high school teams are scrimmaging this summer

That's just the cycle of high school sports.

Contact reporter Devin Voss at dvoss@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @DevinVoss23.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Just how good were area sports teams? Find out how each team fared