Oakwood’s eighth-grade girls’ basketball team opened the season with back-to-back victories before suffering its first loss.

The Knights began with a 21-12 conquest of Hoopeston Area at home on Thursday (Sept. 23). Caydence Vermillion led the way with 13 points.

Mady Nicoson tallied four points. Brynlie Wait hit two points as did Sophia Hart.

On Monday (Sept. 27), Oakwood went on the road and handed Bismarck-Henning a 22-9 defeat.

Vermillion set the pace, scoring eight points. Nicoson had six points, Jaelyn Estock notched four points. Wait and Hart finished with two points apiece.

Not to be overlooked, coach Phil Meyers said, was the play of Estock. “She played a great defensive game,” Meyers said.

On Tuesday (Sept. 28), the Knights winning streak was halted at home by Salt Fork, 31-9.

Vermillion led the way with five points. Allie Huchel hit two points. Chipping in with one free throw apiece were Nicoson and Hart.

Oakwood (2-1) returns to action on Thursday (Sept. 30) in Danville against Schlarman Academy.

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Oakwood started postseason play in softball on Wednesday (Sept. 8) by matching its season-high for runs scored in a 15-4 IESA Class 1A regional quarterfinal win at fourth-seeded Shiloh.

Sophia Hart was 4-for-5 to lead the Knights’ 14-hit attack. Teammates with at least two hits were Brooklynn Myers, Karleigh Nelson and Kendyl Rogers.

Caydence Vermillion stole four bases.

Matilyn Griffis pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits in seven innings. She recorded three strikeouts.

Fifth-seeded Oakwood (2-8) saw its season end on Saturday (Sept. 11) in a regional semifinal game at top-seeded Westville, 10-0.

Griffis pitched four innings and struck out three batters. Sophia Aquino had the lone hit for the Knights.

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Caydence Vermillion pitched a complete game and Matilyn Griffis drove in three runs as Oakwood defeated Georgetown 8-6 in softball.

Vermillion struck out eight in seven innings.

Griffis knocked in two first-inning runs to get Oakwood into an early lead.

Brooklyn Myers had four hits and stole three bases. Teammates with at least two hits were Gracie Hanner, Sophia Hart and Karleigh Nelson.

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After the offense struggled in the first three games, the Oakwood Junior High Knights broke loose for 15 runs in their fourth softball game of the season, but dropped a heartbreaking 16-15 decision on Tuesday (Aug. 17) at Georgetown Mary Miller.

Karleigh Nelson and Matilyn Griffis each swatted three hits for the Knights, who out-hit Georgetown 14-3. Caydence Vermillion and Khloe Brouner had two hits apiece.

Vermillion pitched six innings in relief of Kendyl Rogers. She recorded three strikeouts.

On Monday (Aug. 16), Oakwood was shut out in its home opener, dropping a 15-0 decision to Westville. The Knights were limited to three hits, one each by Gracie Hanner, Sophia Hart and Sophia Aquino. Vermillion had two strikeouts in three innings.

Oakwood also lost twice in its season-opening tournament at Casey-Westfield on Saturday (Aug. 7). The Knights were beaten by Mount Zion 14-1 and by Hutsonville 11-1.

Vermillion collected two of the team’s three hits against Mount Zion. She also pitched five innings and had two strikeouts.

Against Hutsonville, Rogers fanned three batters in four innings. The Oakwood hits were by Nelson, Hart, Hanner and Brooklynn Myers.

Oakwood (0-4) returns to action on Thursday (Aug. 19) at home against Bismarck-Henning.

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