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

____________________________________________________________________________________________

June 14, 2008

 

RECORD INNING HELPS SHAKAMAK WIN FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

A record-tying inning from Shakamak propelled the Lakers past Cowan, 6-2, in the Class A championship game at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

 

It was the first state championship in school history for the school located in the town of Jasonville, which sits in an area of east central Indiana that was hit hard by heavy rains and flooding early in the week. It was the fifth appearance in the state finals for No. 4 Shakamak which was making its third straight trip to the championship game.

 

No. 6 Cowan struggled to come up with an answer to Shakamak sophomore pitcher T.J. Hill, who struck out six through the first four innings. The Blackhawks broke through in the top of the fifth putting up two runs. Junior Jacob O’Conner reached third on an error by the leftfielder, scoring sophomore Skyler Toomey who had walked earlier. O’Conner then stole home to give Cowan a 2-0 lead.

 

Shakamak (26-8) answered in their half of the fifth inning.  With two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore Ben Grissom scored teammates Timothy Betts and John Smith to tie the game. Betts had reached on a fielder’s choice and Smith had walked. Later, with one man on, Grissom stole second, and after Cowan pitcher Justin O’Conner walked senior Derrick Bennett, senior Justin Cox was hit by a pitch forcing in sophomore Billy Newton to give Shakamak a 3-2 advantage. A double by senior Jaret May drove in all three baserunners to increase the lead to 6-2. The six runs tied the Class A championship game record for most in an inning.

 

Shakamak’s defense prevented Cowan from scoring again, ensuring the win for second year head coach Matt Fougerousse and his crew. Previously, Shakamak had to settle for the runner-up position in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

 

No. 6 Cowan, coached by Camden Parkhurst, finished the season 24-6. The Blackhawks were playing in the state finals for the first time.

 

Shakamak’s Hill finished with 10 strikeouts to set a new IHSAA Class A championship game record. The previous mark was seven.

 

 

SHAKAMAK’S JOSHUA HORTON named Mental Attitude Award winner

Joshua Horton of Shakamak High School was recognized by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s recipient of the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class A baseball.

 

At the conclusion of each championship game, the IHSAA Executive Committee presents an award for mental attitude to an outstanding senior participant in each classification of the state tournament. The recipient of the award, nominated by his principal and coach, was determined to have best demonstrated 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.

 

Horton finished his high school career ranked fourth in his class with a 3.949 GPA and was awarded the Core 40 Academic Honors diploma. He has received awards such as the IUPUI Herbert Presidential Scholars Award, TRW Automotive Scholarship, Chemistry Award and AP Calculus Award to name a few.

 

Horton plans to attend IUPUI and study pre-medicine.

 

He participated in baseball for four years, cross country three years and track two years and becomes the second student-athlete from his school to be named an IHSAA mental attitude award winner. Last year, baseball player Steven McNabb won the award.

 

He is the son of Andrea Creech of Jasonville.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Shakamak High School in the name of Joshua Horton.

 

 

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 Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

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. EST).