Page 24 - 2021-22 Baseball State Finals Program
P. 24

Last Year’s State Finals in Review



             Bell leads Southridge to First Baseball State Title


                                                   Southridge put aside three years of
                                                   heartbreak by claiming a 2-0 win over
                                                   Hanover Central in the Class 3A
                                                   championship game.
                                                   After falling short in the Class 2A title
                                                   games in both 2018 and 2019, then losing
                                                   an opportunity to return in 2020 thanks to
                                                   the pandemic, the Raiders of coach Gene
                                                   Mattingly received a complete-game, two-hit
                                                   performance from senior right-hander Ethan
                                                   Bell to key the victory.
                                                   Bell also drove in the only two runs of the
                                                   game with a two-out double down the third-
                                                   base line in the fifth inning.
                                                   The title is the first in program history for the
                                                   Raiders (26-7), who came in unranked.
                                                   Bell finished with eight strikeouts and walked
                                                   only one as he allowed only one Hanover
                                                   Central hitter to even reach second base.
                                                   Coach Ryan Bridges guided the Wildcats
                                                   to a 29-4-1 record and only their second
                                                   appearance in a state title game. Hanover
                                                   Central, which came in on a 13-game
                                                   winning streak, also lost in the Class 2A
                                                   championship game in 2011.

      Jasper reels in Sixth Baseball Crown, first since 2006 and first in 4A
     Jasper returned to the top of the heap, this time in
     Class 4A, with a 3-1 win over Fishers in the final
     state title game for 2020-21.
     The Wildcats of long-time head coach Terry Gobert,
     claimed their sixth state title, but the first since
     winning in Class 3A in 2006. Jasper had finished as
     runner-up in its last four state finals appearances
     – 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2017 (all in 3A). All told,
     Jasper was making its 10th championship game
     appearance, which is a state record.
     Jasper (31-2 with 22 straight victories to close out
     the season) scored all three of its runs in the third
     inning, taking advantage of an error and doubles by
     Connor Foley and Ross Peter. Peter’s two-bagger
     drove in the final two runs.
     Grant Stratton pitched the complete game, allowing
     just three hits, striking out seven and walking none.
     He finished the season with a 13-0 record.
     Fishers, coached by Matthew Cherry, plated its only
     run in the fourth inning. After loading the bases with
     one out, Dom Oliverio delivered a sacrifice fly.
     The Tigers, who won the state title in 2018, finished
     23-13.
     24                         IHSAA - Pure Spirit.  Pure Sport!
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