Indiana High School Athletic Association

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 18, 2005

NORTH POSEY BREAKS AWAY FOR 2A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Sixth-ranked North Posey scored five runs over the last two innings to break a deadlock and claim an 11-6 victory over Northwestern in the Class 2A state championship game at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette.

It was the first state championship in a team sport for the school which was making its second appearance in the baseball finals. Mike Swartzentruber was the coach for the 27-8 Vikings.

Junior right fielder Robert Johnson’s two-run double with one out in the sixth gave North Posey an 8-6 edge in the game. Then in the seventh, senior shortstop Andy Spahn sacrificed to center field scoring Jake Voegel followed by senior leftfielder J.C. Poe’s two RBI double to left which plated Jared Baehl and Andrew Emge.

Eight new records were set for a Class 2A championship contest, including North Posey’s 13 base hits, 24 combined hits between the two teams and 17 combined RBI. The lead changed hands five times in the ball game.

Voegel finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, Emge was 2-for-5 with three runs and Spahn ended 1-for-3 with a run and four RBI. Poe also finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored.

Jared Baehl (10-1) went all seven innings on the mound for the Vikings while Dan Metz (7-6) absorbed the loss for Northwestern after taking over for Dustin Cronkhite in the fourth inning.

North Posey was trailing 4-3 in the fourth before the Viking batters got after Cronkhite. With two outs, Emge singled to right bringing around Brock Wenderoth from second base. Spahn then came to bat with bases loaded and drilled a line drive to left field scoring two more runs.

Dan Deno then opened up Northwestern’s fourth inning with a long shot over the centerfielder’s head for a stand-up triple before Cronkhite blasted a home run over the right field wall to tie the game once more at 6-6.

Junior catcher Adam Nix thwarted a potential Northwestern rally in the bottom of the sixth inning by nailing the runner at second base on a stolen base attempt.

Northwestern finished the year 19-13 under coach Ryan Berryman. Cronkhite led the Tigers on 2-for-4 hitting with a run and two RBI.

Northwestern’s Brandon Beachy Named Winner of L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award

Senior third baseman Brandon Beachy of Northwestern High School was selected as the 2005 Class 2A recipient of the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee. Beachy received the award following Saturday’s championship game.

Beachy is a four-year starter who helped Northwestern to its first state finals appearance this season, leading the Tigers in runs (30), RBI (31), doubles (10), and home runs (7). The 2005 team captain set school career records for games (116) and starts (113), earning All Mid-Indiana Conference recognition twice and all-county honors once.

“Brandon’s attitude has been an outstanding example for his teammates, his school community, and his five younger brothers and sisters,” said Northwestern principal Harold Seamon. “His dedication, hard work, and attitude have been key factors in his development in baseball. It is gratifying for our school community to see a student athlete give back to the program, and Brandon has done that by working at youth baseball clinics and officiating in our youth program.”

Beachy graduated with an Academic Honors Program, taking numerous higher-level courses. He has been active in student government as a class officer and he has been involved in a student group that promoted our teams and elevated school spirit.

Beachy has earned an academic and athletic full scholarship to Indiana Wesleyan University.

He is the son of Lester and Lori Beachy.

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