School Sports

VANDALIA – After their first game was canceled due to rain, the Vandals showed last Friday that they were ready to start the season as soon as they took the field.

“I’m not kidding – and this will sound silly – but that was the best round of infield and outfield we have ever taken before a game,” said coach Luke Hohlt. “It was flawless, and our guys were chattering and keeping each other pumped up.

After rain and cold temperatures canceled 33 of the first 40 games for area teams, the snow storm that blasted the area is going to postpone games for at least the next several days.

Nearly a foot of snow blanketed Fayette County on Sunday, leaving area baseball, softball and track teams again practicing in unnatural surroundings.

Many games were played last Friday and Saturday before the storm, but through last Thursday, just seven games had been played, including none for South Central, Patoka or Brownstown.

Vandalia sophomore Ben Strobel finished 11th in the 1,600-meter run at Saturday's Class 1A Illinois Prep Top Times meet in Bloomington.

Held in the Shirk Fieldhouse on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University, Strobel finished the race in 4:47.67 to place four positions higher than he was seeded.

The Top Times meet is known as the unofficial indoor state championship meet.

Vandalia Jr. Wrestling Club member Jarek Wehrle went 3-3 to place eighth at the Illinois Midget Championships in Danville.

After receiving a bye in the Midget 60 division, Wehrle wrestled to six decisions, none of which had a margin of fewer than five points.

Also wrestling for Vandalia was Kyle Miller.

Miller, wrestling in the Midget 60 division, went 3-2, but did not place in the event.

He recorded two pins, both coming in under a minute.