Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
Blake Ress, Commissioner
____________________________________________________________________________________________
June 14, 2008
CRAWFORDSVILLE
PITCHING DELIVERS STATE TITLE
Fifth-ranked
Crawfordsville rode the pitching performance of senior Cameron Hobson to take the
3A state title in a 5-1 victory over unranked Mishawaka Marian. The win gave Crawfordsville its first state
championship in baseball, and the first state championship for the school in
any boys sport since 1956.
Hobson gave
up only one run and three hits, while his 11 strikeouts tied the Class 3A
record, originally set in 1998. Sophomore
reliever Steven Rice entered the game in the sixth inning and added six
strikeouts of his own and earned his third save of the year.
Crawfordsville
got things started in the bottom of the first inning as Mishawaka Marian
pitcher Jordan Niespodziany walked junior Brett Linn. Linn stole second and was then driven in by a
single from senior Mitchell Ray. The
Athenians scored again in the bottom of the second after junior J.D. Rice
doubled to left center field. Rice was
replaced by pinch runner Quinten Anderson, who advanced to third on a sacrifice
bunt by senior Andrew Swart. Two batters
later, Anderson scored thanks to senior Justin Wright’s single up the
middle.
The
Athenians’ next scoring opportunity started with a single by junior Blake
Harris. Senior Justin Wright reached
second on a throwing error by Niespodziany, moving Harris to third. Hobson then was intentionally walked, loading
the bases. Junior Brett McKinney stepped
up and lifted a sacrifice fly out to right field, scoring Harris.
Mishawaka
Marian answered in the top of the fifth with a single by senior Drew
Smith. The next batter, senior Stephen
Barany reached first base after a wild pitch by Hobson. With runners on first and second, junior Mike
Karason, pinch hitting for Niespodziany, singled to left field, bringing home
Smith for the Knight’s lone score of the game.
Crawfordsville
went right back to work in the sixth inning as Hobson continued to lead the way
with a triple to center field. Brett
Linn laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to score Hobson, and reached first on
a fielder’s choice. Linn stole second
and then third, bringing his total to three stolen bases on the day, setting a Class
3A record and tying the overall state finals record.
Mishawaka
Marian, coached by fifth-year coach Tim Prister, was making its first
appearance in the Class 3A state finals.
The Knights finished their season 21-11.
Crawfordsville
head coach John Froedge was in his 27th year at the helm for the
Athenians who finished the season with their last 17 games to finish 32-4.
CRAWFORDSVILLE’S JUSTIN WRIGHT named Mental Attitude Award winner
Justin
Wright of
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.
Wright
recently graduated third in his senior class at Crawfordsville with a GPA of
4.178. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes, the Athenian Corps – the official host for CHS, and served
as senior class treasurer. He has volunteered his time working with various
youth groups, attended the National Youth Leadership Forum in
Wright has
been a four-year participant in baseball, football and basketball and served as
team captain in the latter two.
He intends to
begin studying Environmental Sciences at
He is the
son of Jim and Suzi Wright of Crawfordsville.
Indiana
Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000
scholarship to Crawfordsville High School in the name of Wright.
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
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 (