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 16, 2007

 

No Luck Needed For The Irish; Cathedral Wins 4A Title

 

On the strength of a dominant pitching performance by senior Anthony Agnew, the Indianapolis Cathedral Fighting Irish (29-4) defeated the Kokomo Wildkats (28-4), 7-2, to capture the 4A baseball crown at Victory Field.

 

Agnew allowed just four hits in the game to finish the season with a perfect 13-0 record. He struck out eight Kokomo hitters including the side in the sixth inning. Kokomo junior Bryce Robinson took the loss for the Wildkats in his only defeat of the year to go with 10 wins. 

 

Cathedral wasted no time in denting the plate when junior catcher Jack Lupo lined a double down the left field line to lead off the game. The throw to second was wide of the bag and ended up in the stands which allowed Lupo to be awarded third. Agnew helped his own cause with a hard hit ground ball to Kokomo senior second baseman Nick Sale that scored Lupo to give the Irish the early 1-0 lead.

 

After Kokomo failed to mount a threat in the bottom of the inning, the Irish were right back to work in the second as they loaded the bases with no outs. Junior designated hitter Brandon Stevens lined a single to right, junior left fielder Tony Ranek was hit by a pitch while attempting to bunt and senior first baseman Steve Darragh drew a walk. The bottom end of the Cathedral lineup then came through as sophomore shortstop Patrick Paligraf singled to left scoring Stevens. Two batters later, Agnew drove in his second run in as many innings with a sacrifice fly to right scoring Ranek.

 

Kokomo escaped even more damage by turning an inning-ending double play in the fourth just as it appeared Cathedral was primed to add to the lead. The Irish had runners on first and third with one out and the top of the order coming up but failed to capitalize.

 

Cathedral added an insurance run in the sixth on a double by Darragh scoring Ranek to give the Irish a 4-0 lead.  The Irish scored three more runs in the seventh to clinch their second IHSAA baseball title and first in Class 4A to go with their 4A runner up finish a year ago. Cathedral was crowned 3A champion in 2001.

 

Kokomo’s two runs came in the seventh on a double by senior third baseman Andrew Quinnette who later scored on Robinson’s triple. Robinson would then score on a single by senior catcher Evan Skiles.

 

Quinnette accounted for two of the Wildkats four hits as he singled and stole a base in the fourth and doubled and scored in the seventh.

 

To go with his sparkling pitching performance for Cathedral, Agnew drove in two runs in his two official trips to the plate and Paligraf plated a pair of runs with this three hit evening.

 

The Wildkats (28-4) were making their first appearance in the finals since 1988. They were coached by Steve Edwards who was in his third year at the helm. Kokomo’s state championship came in 1985.

 

Cathedral won three IHSAA state championships in 2006-07.  In addition to their baseball title, the Irish also won the 4A volleyball and 4A football titles this past fall.

 

 

Andrew Quinnette of Kokomo Named L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award Winner

 

Andrew Quinnette of Kokomo High School was recognized by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Class 4A baseball.

 

Andrew ranked 29th in his graduating class of 342 with a 3.87 overall GPA. He was awarded the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, Scholar Athlete Award 2007 and Academic “K” Award.

 

Andrew was honored all-conference for baseball and tennis for two years apiece. He was president of Boy’s Legion, Secretary of Rotary Club and a member of National Honor Society for two years.

 

Andrew was given the Total Person Scholarship by the Rotary Club. He also received the K-Club Mike Cowan Memorial Scholarship.

 

He is the son of Gary and JoAnn Quinnette of Kokomo.

 

Andrew received a baseball and presidential scholarship to Valparaiso University, where plans to study pre-law.

 

Matt Hays of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Kokomo High School in the name of Andrew Quinnette.

 

 

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).