Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

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                                                                                                                                                 June 17, 2006

 

NORTH POSEY MAKES IT BACK-TO-BACK

The North Posey Vikings defeated the Hammond Bishop Noll Warriors 8-1 to claim the Class 2A state championship.  North Posey (26-8) became the third team in history, and the second at this year’s state finals, to win back-to-back state titles. 

 

The Vikings were led by starting pitcher, senior Jared Baehl (9-3).  Baehl set a Class 2A championship record for strikeouts with 11.  Baehl also tied a record for fewest hits allowed in a complete game with three.  Baehl also earned a complete-game victory in the 2005 Class 2A championship.   

 

Hammond Bishop Noll (22-12), led by coach Dave Griffin, scored the first run of the game, and their only of the day, in the first inning.  The run came after Josh Pelletier hit a single to right field with the bases loaded, scoring Jake Pelletier. 

 

The Vikings, led by coach Mike Swartzentruber, took control of the game, fueled by a strong showing at the plate.  North Posey scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, led by a two-run triple to right field from senior Robert Johnson.  The last run in the inning came when Johnson crossed the plate off a double from junior Ryan Neumann. 

 

North Posey went on to score four unearned runs in the second inning.  Braxton Williams was the first to score after Jared Baehl reached on a fielder’s choice.  Baehl would then score after Robert Johnson got his second hit of the day with a double to right center field.  Brock Wenderoth then knocked in the last two runs of the inning with a triple to left center. 

 

The final run of the day came in the fifth inning.  Brock Wenderoth scored for the Vikings on a single by junior Justin Esche.  

 

Brock Wenderoth and Robert Johnson tied the 2A record for most triples, with one apiece.

 

 

NORTH POSEY’S JARED BAEHL WINS L.V. PHILLIPS MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD

North Posey senior pitcher Jared Baehl is the 2006 recipient of the IHSAA Baseball Class 2A L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award as selected by the IHSAA Board of Directors.

 

Baehl is a two-sport standout who led North Posey to the 2005 Class 2A baseball state championship and a runner-up finish in the 2005 football finals.  Baehl was selected in the recent major league baseball draft by the Seattle Mariners in the 14th round.  He was a 2006 Louisville Slugger Pre-Season All-America selection.  In football, Baehl was an all-state performer last fall, earning all-conference honors as a four-year starter.

 

Baehl graduated 12th in his senior class with a 3.63 cumulative grade point average.  He has served as class vice president, National Honor Society treasurer, and on the Principal’s Liaison student committee.

 

Last fall, Baehl led an effort to establish a memorial fund for David Snyder, a popular North Posey senior who had died.

 

“Jared is a fierce competitor, but he is very well adjusted as a quality young man,” said North Posey principal Linda J. Crick.  “He is easy to talk to, has enormous respect and gratefulness for the love and sacrifices of his family, and will always greet you with an infectious smile.”

 

Baehl is active as a server and youth group leader at St. Francis church.  He also is a volunteer at the Posey County Nursing Home volunteer worker and for the Vanderburgh County Habitat for Humanity.

 

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 award is annually presented to an outstanding senior participant in each classification who has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in baseball.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to North Posey High School in the name of Jared Baehl.

 

Baehl will attend the University of Evansville on an academic and athletic scholarship, majoring in electrical engineering.

 

 

VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site on Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE

For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.

 

STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Couldn’t be there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT).