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

 

BISHOP LUERS WINS FIRST BASEBALL TITLE, REACHES STATE MILESTONE

Second-ranked Fort Wayne Bishop Luers scored a 2A record number of runs in the fifth inning to break open a close game and went on to defeat No. 9 Elwood, 14-8, for the state championship at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

 

With the victory, Bishop Luers became the first school in IHSAA history to win a football, basketball and baseball title in the same school year. Earlier this year, Bishop Luers defeated Heritage Christian, 21-6, for the 2A football state title and defeated Winchester, 69-67, to win the 2A boys basketball championship. It was the school’s first baseball championship and no Bishop Luers student-athlete was on the roster of all three teams.

 

The Knights (30-3) scored a 2A record six runs in the top of the fifth inning to break open a 4-3 advantage. A pair of big hits were turned in by senior Chuck Andrews who singled to center scoring Tyler Bunn and Tim Kawiecki and two batters later when junior Tyquan Hammock tripled to right field bringing home Dan Wyss and Andrews. Wyss had reached on a throwing error.

 

Luers added four more in the sixth inning including Wyss’ single to left that scored Daniel Peppler and Bunn.

 

Elwood answered with four of its own in the bottom half of the sixth. Trailing 14-4, senior Nate Jones launched a lead-off home run over the left field fence. Aaron Klein followed with a double to right and Jacob Dunnichay reached on a fielding error. Kevin Worsley then singled to right scoring Klein and moving Dunnichay to third. A couple batters later, Troy Worsley grounded out to second plating Dunnichay. Wills then tripled to center scoring Kevin Worsley from second.

 

For Luers, Peppler went 4-4 with three RBI and two runs scored and Bunn went 4-5 with two RBI and three runs. Andrews also batted three scores for the winners and Hammock was responsible for a double and triple. For Elwood, Troy Worsley went 3-4 with two RBI and one score and Wills went 3-4 with three RBI. Elwood left nine runners on base.

 

Elwood (27-5) was making its first appearance in the baseball state finals and had a 16-game winning streak snapped. The Panthers were coachedby Adrian Helm. Luers was coached by 22nd year skipper Gary Rogers.

 

The two teams combined for four more records in the game – total runs (22), hits (28), runs in one inning (7 in the fifth) and runs batted in (20).

 

 

ELWOOD’S NATHANIEL WILLS named Mental Attitude Award winner

Nathaniel Wills of Elwood High School was selected by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s recipient of the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A 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.

 

Wills just graduated 10th in his senior class at Elwood where he was a member of the National Honor Society, the Steering Committee, Student Council and the Latin Club. He also played basketball leading the Panthers in scoring the last two seasons earning all-conference honors.

 

Wills plans to study accounting but is undecided on his college choice.

 

He becomes the third student-athlete from Elwood to win an IHSAA mental attitude award and first since 1976. That year, James Runyon won the award in wrestling. Ron Drake also won the award for track and field in 1964.

 

Nathaniel is the son of Susan and David Wills of Elwood.

 

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

 

 

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).