Page 22 - 2020-21 Baseball State Finals Program

Outstanding Officials Last Year’s State Finals in Review

University Captures First State Championship Behind Sharp’s Record 17 Ks
University’s return trip to the Class A state champion-
Miles Mann Honored As 2020 Baseball Official of the Year ship game proved successful, thanks, in part, to a state-
record performance by senior pitcher Reese Sharp.
special ceremony during the Miles is a graduate of the A year after falling to Daleville in the title game, the
sectional round of this year’s University of Evansville with the Trailblazers plated their first three batters of the game and
State Tournament. field study of Mechanical went on to a 4-1 victory over Washington Twp. in a rain-
interrupted contest at Victory Field.
Each year, the Indiana High Engineering. Currently, Miles Dawson Estep whacked the first pitch of the game for a
School Athletic Association, in works as the Assistant Director of single before Sharp sent the next pitch off the leftfield wall
cooperation with the National Facility Operations at the for a triple to give the Trailblazers the lead. Pinch runner
Federation of Interscholastic University of Southern Indiana Ethan Johnson and Alex Washlock, who reached on a walk,
Officials Association, recognizes (USI) and has for 30 years. In later scored for a 3-0 lead.
and honors an outstanding official addition to his involvement in high Sharp, an Indiana University-recruit and San Francisco
in each of 11 sports during the school athletics, Mann works with Giants draft pick, pitched the complete game, allowing just
school year. local youth programs for both four hits and striking out a state-record 17 batters. That total
is a record for all classes. He walked three and hit a batter.
Mann was selected for this baseball and basketball. He also The only run Sharp allowed Washington Township
honor by a committee assists as the Official Scorkeeper came on a two-out, RBI double by Matt Rogers that cut
representing the Indiana officials for USI Women’s Basketball, the University lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning. The Trailblaz-
associations. A member of the volunteers with the Special ers (22-10-1) came back with an unearned run in the sixth
Miles Mann is the recipient of Southern Indiana Officials Olympics and serves as a Rules inning to close the scoring.

Tyler Gaylean had three hits and Matt Moore and Estep
the 2020 Interscholastic Athletic Association, Miles has officiated Interpreter for PONY and Bronco each had two hits for the winners.
Official Association Award for 27 sectionals, 11 regionals, eight Zone Tournaments. The title for coach Chris Estep’s squad is the first in
excellence in the sport of (8) semi-states, and six (6) state Miles and his wife Andrea re- school history, while Washington Township was playing in
Baseball. Although there was no finals during his 30 years as a side in Evansville and have three its first-ever state championship game in any sport.
Baseball season in 2020, Official licensed baseball official. He is children, Lindsay (28), Daniel (25) Coach Randy Roberts’s Senators finish the season at
of the Year had already been also licensed in basketball, and Jack (19). 23-7.
named. Miles was honored in a football, and softball. Alexandria Scores Twice in the Seventh, Walks Off with 2A State Title
Brennan Morehead singled in the tying run and
scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh
inning to lift Alexandria Monroe to a miraculous, 4-3
Sullivan’s Jay Slater Named 2021 Top Baseball Official victory over Southridge in the Class 2A champion-
ship game.
Each year, the Indiana High served as a IHSAA Clinician and Southridge, making a return appearance after
School Athletic Association, in Rules Interpreter. falling in the 2A title game in 2018, led the entire way
and pitcher Ethan Bell struck out Kole Stewart for
cooperation with the National Slater is a member of the what would have been the final out of the game. Yet,
Federation of Interscholastic Wabash Valley Officials Stewart reached on a dropped third strike when the
Officials Association, recognizes Association, where he has throw sailed over the first baseman’s glove, allowing
and honors an outstanding official previouly served as board him to advance to second base.
Stewart then scored on Morehead’s single to

in each of 11 sports during the member and president. Jay also tie the game at 3-3. Clean-up hitter Nick Williams
school year. takes time to mentor other high followed with a high pop fly on the first pitch that
Slater was selected for this school and little league umpires. dropped between the Southridge shortstop and left
honor by a committee Slater is a graduate of fielder allowing Morehead to race home with the win-
ning run.
representing the Indiana officials Shakamak High School and is The victory gives coach Jeff Closser’s Tigers
associations. Jay has been a currently a Safety and (29-6) their first state title since winning the first 2A
licensed Baseball official for Environmental Engineer at Sony. championship in 1998.
Southridge (22-9) took a 1-0 lead in the opening
27 years. During that time, he Jay and his wife Cindy reside in inning without benefit of a hit, then added two more
Jay Slater is the recipient of has officiated 22 sectionals, 16 Sullivan and have two children, in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Joe
the 2021 Interscholastic Athletic regionals, eight (8) semi-states, Heather (36),and Ashlee (34). LaGrange and Connor Oxley for a 3-0 lead.
Official Association Award for and seven (7) state finals. He is The Tigers broke through in the sixth inning when
excellence in the sport of also licensed in basketball and Williams and Rylan Metz each slapped one-out
singles. Williams scored on a Brayton Gaines single,
Baseball. Slater will be honored in football. He has officiated eight (8) while Metz eventually scored on a wild pitch to pull
a special ceremony at this week’s basketball state finals and two (2) the Tigers within 3-2.
State Finals. football state finals. Jay has also Williams and Metz each had two hits for the win-
ners. LaGrange scored a run and drove in a run for
coach Gene Mattingly’s Raiders.
22 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! 23