Page 25 - 2021-22 Baseball State Finals Program

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!