Page 26 - 2008-09 Baseball State Finals Program

Last Year’s State Finals in Review

CRAWFORDSVILLE PITCHING DELIVERS STATE TITLE

Fifth-ranked Crawfordsville rode the pitching perfor- Rice doubled to left center field. Rice was replaced by
mance of senior Cameron Hobson to take the 3A state title pinch runner Quinten Anderson, who advanced to third on
in a 5-1 victory over unranked
Mishawaka Marian. The win gave
Crawfordsville its first state cham-
pionship in baseball, and the first
state championship for the school
in any boys sport since 1956.
Hobson gave up only one run
and three hits, while his 11 strike-
outs tied the Class 3A record,
originally set in 1998. Sophomore
reliever Steven Rice entered
the game in the sixth inning and
added six strikeouts of his own
and earned his third save of the
year.
Crawfordsville got things
started in the bottom of the first
inning as Mishawaka Marian
pitcher Jordan Niespodziany
walked junior Brett Linn. Linn
stole second and was then driven
in by a single from senior Mitchell Ray. The Athenians a sacrifice bunt by senior Andrew Swart. Two batters later,
scored again in the bottom of the second after junior J.D. Anderson scored thanks to senior Justin Wright’s single up
the middle.
The Athenians’ next scoring opportunity started with a
single by junior Blake Harris. Senior Justin Wright reached
second on a throwing error by Niespodziany, moving Harris
to third. Hobson then was intentionally walked, loading
the bases. Junior Brett McKinney stepped up and lifted a
sacrifice fly out to right field, scoring Harris.
Mishawaka Marian answered in the top of the fifth with
a single by senior Drew Smith. The next batter, senior
Stephen Barany reached first base after a wild pitch by
Hobson. With runners on first and second, junior Mike
Karason, pinch hitting for Niespodziany, singled to left field,
bringing home Smith for the Knight’s lone score of the
game.
Crawfordsville went right back to work in the sixth
inning as Hobson continued to lead the way with a triple to
center field. Brett Linn laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt
to score Hobson, and reached first on a fielder’s choice.
Linn stole second and then third, bringing his total to three
stolen bases on the day, setting a Class 3A record and tying
the overall state finals record.
Mishawaka Marian, coached by fifth-year coach Tim
Prister, was making its first appearance in the Class 3A
state finals. The Knights finished their season 21-11.
Crawfordsville head coach John Froedge was in his
27th year at the helm for the Athenians who finished the
season with their last 17 games to finish 32-4.

24 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport!

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