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 14, 2008

DECATUR CENTRAL WINS FIRST STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY

Decatur Central scored six runs across the second and third innings and went on to defeat Homestead, 7-3, to win the Class 4A state championship at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

It was the 10^th straight win and the very first state title for the school located in the southwestern corner of Indianapolis and came in the school’s first trip to the baseball state finals.

The unranked Hawks (29-7) banged out six runs on eight hits in the first three innings to take a 6-2 advantage.

In the second inning, they jumped out to early 2-0 lead behind RBI singles from second baseman Adam Kirk and catcher Isaac Pruitt.

Homestead (26-6), also unranked coming in, rallied in the top of the third to tie the score 2-2. Ryan Trieglaff and Ryan Wright each singled with one out and Logan Bultemeier followed with another to score Trieglaff. Patrick Veerkamp then sacrificed to right field scoring Wright who had moved over to third on Bultemeier’s single.

Decatur then added four runs in the bottom half of the third.

With one gone, Nick Stoia singled to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kirk followed with a hit to right and advanced to third on a throwing error scoring Stoia for a 3-2 advantage. Andrew Kinnaird then singled through the left side scoring Kirk. Jeff Pace then walked and Aaron Gregory doubled to bring home Kinnaird for a 5-2 lead and Isaac Pruitt’s sacrifice to centerfield scored Pace for a 6-2 margin.

In the fourth inning, Homestead cut the deficit to 6-3 when Bob Glover tripled to left center scoring Derek Kinzer from first. Kinzer had bunted to get aboard.

The Hawks added the seventh run in the fifth inning when Gregory singled to right scoring Pace who had reached on a throwing error and advanced to second.

Decatur Central was coached by Phil Webster, who was finishing his 24^th year on the job. Homestead, had come into the game having beaten four top 10 teams during its tournament run but fell short in the school’s initial appearance in the state finals. The Spartans were led by first year coach Steve Sotir.

Ryan Trieglaff named Mental Attitude Award winner

Ryan Trieglaff of Homestead 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 4A baseball.

Ryan has been a role model in the community both on and off the field throughout his high school career. Homestead principal Rick Smith commented, “As a result of his father’s illness and death earlier this year, Ryan’s maturity and positive attitude have helped his mother and two younger brothers through this difficult time in their lives.” His commitment to his family, teammates, classmates and community are not the exception but rather the rule.

Ryan has volunteered as a Sunday School Teacher, worked for the Huntington County Clinic, and has helped out as a volunteer Little League coach. He is an academic honors diploma recipient and has received the JP & Justin Fund Scholarship.

Ryan plans to attend Indiana University as a pre-medicine student in the hopes of helping to find a cure for cancer.

He is the son of Kelly Trieglaff of Fort Wayne.

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

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).