Two Indiana high school baseball state titles were won Friday night at Victory Field in Indianapolis.
Unranked Illiana Christian, in only its second year of IHSAA tournament eligibility, scored early and often in rolling to a 10-1 over Centerville in the Class 2A state championship game.
Coach Jeff VanderWoude’s Vikings plated four runs in their half of the first and put the game away with four more in the fourth inning, taking advantage of four Centerville errors. Seven of the 10 IC runs were unearned.
The victory leaves the Vikings with a 22-7 record and made a victor of left-hander Kevin Corcoran, who tossed the complete game, allowing just two hits and walking three, while striking out 10.
Cody DeJong led Illiana Christian with three runs scored, while third baseman Gabe VanRoekel scored twice and drove in two.
Centerville (21-6) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after pinch runner Colton Rinehart scored on a triple by Jamari Pamplin with the only extra-base hit of the game.
Pinch runner Josh Vis scored two runs for IC, while designated hitter Gavin Meyer also drove in two runs.
The Bulldogs of coach Tracey Crull were making their first-ever state finals appearance.
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Keegen Schlotterbeck of Centerville Senior High School as the recipient of this year’s L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A Baseball.
Keegen graduated with a 3.5 GPA, earned an Academic and Technical Honors diploma and was selected Academic All-State in football last fall. A three-sport athlete for the Bulldogs, he was a four year starter in baseball and football and three years in basketball.
“There was never a second thought about whom we should nominate for this award,” says his coach Tracey Crull. “Keegen is our silent leader. He leads by example and our team gravitates to him for leadership, advice and friendship. He is that person for our school and team.”
Keegen is the son of Stacie and Butch Schlotterbeck of Richmond, Indiana. Keegen plans to attend Vincennes University in the fall to study Electrical Engineering and play baseball for the Trailblazers.
He is the first student-athlete from Centerville High School to receive an IHSAA mental attitude award in any sport.
Please click on this link for the 2A state championship box score.
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Alonzo Paul’s two-run single in the bottom of the third inning provided all the runs Andrean would need in its 5-1 victory over Brebeuf in the Class 3A state championship game.
The victory for coach Dave Pishkur’s squad proved to be historic as it gave the 59ers their eighth state title and their eighth-straight win in a state title game. The eighth championship matches LaPorte for the most in state history.
All eight state titles – which have each come since 2005 – have come under Pishkur, giving him the most of any coach in state history.
The title is also the third for the Andrean athletic program during the 2021-22 school year as the 59ers were girls volleyball and football state champs in the fall.
Paul’s hit keyed a three-run second inning and the 59ers added single runs in the third and fifth. Jax Kalemba had three hits and an RBI for Andrean, which finished 32-4.
Pitcher Peyton Niksch picked up the complete-game victory for the 59ers, allowing just one (unearned) run and three hits, while striking out eight.
Anthony Annee scored the only run for coach Jeff Scott’s Braves, who finished 26-5.
Brebeuf’s Andrew Dutkanych named Mental Attitude recipient
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Andrew Dutkanych IV of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School as the recipient of this year’s L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A Baseball.
Andrew recently graduated among the top students in his class with a 4.25 GPA, is Brebeuf’s career strikeouts leader on the mound and also played the French Horn in the school band.
Andrew is the son of Caroline and Andrew Dutkanych III of Indianapolis. He is a potential first round draft pick in next month’s MLB Draft but has also accepted a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University and play baseball for the Commodores. He plans to study Economics.
The award is annually presented to an outstanding senior participant in each state championship game who has best demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in baseball. The award is named in honor of the late L.V. Phillips, who served as the second commissioner of the IHSAA from 1945-62.
The L.V. Phillips Award is annually presented to an outstanding senior participant in each state championship game who has best demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in baseball. The award is named in honor of the late L.V. Phillips, who served as the second commissioner of the IHSAA from 1945-62.
Please click on this link for the 3A state championship box score.
We thank the IHSAA for the state finals information.