June 16, 2009

THREE FORMER CHAMPS HEADLINE BASEBALL STATE FINALS

The field of eight schools for the 43rd Annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals includes three former state champions (none from 2008) and three first-time participants.

The Class A state championship game is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 pm ET, while the 2A, 3A and 4A games will be contested at 1 pm ET, 4 pm ET and 8 pm ET, respectively, on Saturday. All four games will be played at Victory Field in Indianapolis, home of the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Friday’s Class A game features No. 2 Lafayette Central Catholic (27-4) taking on unranked Vincennes Rivet (16-10). The Knights are making their third championship game appearance in the last six seasons having won titles in 2004 and 2007. Central Catholic has outscored its five tournament foes, 46-5, including a 16 run outburst in the semi-state. Rivet will be seeking its first state championship in any sport after collecting its first baseball regional and semi-state crowns the last two Saturdays. The Patriots girls basketball team came away as state runner-up in March and a member of that team, Emily Montgomery, plays left field on the baseball team. She is believed to be the first female in any sport to play in an IHSAA state championship game as part of a boys team.

Saturday’s 2A game between unranked Cass (19-8) and No. 9 Heritage Christian (24-6) features the same two schools that battled for the Class 2A football championship won by Heritage Christian, 17-14, last November. Both are new to the baseball state finals, however. Heritage will be gunning for the schools third state crown of this school year also winning its fourth straight in 2A girls basketball. Cass will be chasing the school’s fourth overall title in six years having won in 2A boys basketball (2003) and 2A softball (2006, 2008).

The 3A final looks to be a hotly-contested game between top-ranked Andrean (32-2) and No. 3 West Vigo (28-1).

The 59ers, the 2005 state champs, have outscored their last five opponents, 55-7, while the Vikings have outperformed their six tourney foes 52-12. West Vigo is playing in the state finals for the second time in baseball and will be looking for the school’s first championship in any sport. Vikings catcher Jeremy Lucas was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2009 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft earlier this month. Andrean’s girls softball team played in its state championship contest last Saturday.

The weekend’s finale in 4A showcases a pair of unranked teams as Fort Wayne Snider (23-3) tangles with Westfield (24-5). Snider toppled top-ranked Crown Point, 4-2, in the South Bend Semi-State on Monday and returns to the state finals for just the second time after winning it all in 2006. The Panthers have won their last three games by no more than two runs and will be representing their school in a state title game for the third time this year (girls soccer, boys basketball both finished runner-up). Westfield knocked out defending state champion Decatur Central in the regional semifinal and No. 6 Castle in Saturday’s semi-state and will play for the state championship for the first time since 1998 when they fell to Jasper for the 3A trophy. Westfield senior pitcher Kyle Kramp was picked by the San Francisco Giants during the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft earlier this month.

Check www.ihsaa.org throughout the weekend for scoreboard updates on each contest. Line scores and computerized box scores will be available for Saturday’s four state championship games.

Meet the Teams

For roster, stats and schedules on all 16 teams in this year’s state finals, click here.

State Finals

Dates: Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20.

Site: Victory Field, 501 W. Maryland Street, Indianapolis.

Victory Field | Seating Chart | Driving Directions & Map | Parking | Indy Hotels & Dining

Admission: $9.

Home Team: The winner of the north semi-state is the designated home team in each game.

Television: Indiana Cable Network

Webcast: IHSAASports.org

Tournament Brackets: 4A | 3A | 2A | A

Friday

Class A | Lafayette Central Catholic (27-4) vs. Vincennes Rivet (16-10). 7:30 pm ET

Saturday

Class 2A | Cass (20-8) vs. Heritage Christian (24-6). 1 pm ET

Class 3A | Andrean (32-2) vs. West Vigo (28-1). 4 pm ET

Class 4A | Fort Wayne Snider (24-3) vs. Westfield (24-5). 8 pm ET

Media Information

Media Hosts – Sports Information Director Jason Wille, Communications Director Chris Kaufman and assistants Mike Wilson and Kristy Murphy will be on site to assist in your coverage.

Media Credentials: The 2008-09 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously this year will allow for admission. Those outlets needing credentials should immediately e-mail (jwille@ihsaa.org) or fax a request on letterhead to Sports Information Director Jason Wille at 317-575-4244. The application deadline is Thursday, June 18, at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT. Those wishing to broadcast at any site should immediately contact Matt Smith of Associated Sports Productions at 317-633-1462 to make arrangements.

Media Will-Call: Approved requests will be available for pickup at media will-call located inside the glass doors to the right of the ticket windows on the stadium’s west side. Please have identification available to claim your credentials. Will-call will open on Friday at 5:30 pm ET and on Saturday at 11 am ET.

Media Parking: There is no designated parking for media but the lot to the west of the stadium is the nearest option. If full, there are several lots available within short walking distance of Victory Field. The State Garage, opposite the centerfield entrance on the northeast corner of Maryland and West streets is nearby as is the underground garage northwest of the stadium for the NCAA, Indiana State Museum, Eiteljorg Museum and White River State Park.

Services: Starting lineups and game programs will be circulated to members of the media in the press box. Computer-generated official box scores will be available following each of the four state championship games and also posted to the IHSAA website. The Indianapolis Indians provide complimentary wireless internet access within the press box. A password which is posted in the press area is needed for access.

Photography: Photographers may take up positions in the outfield portion of each dugout for field level shots. At no time during the game should photographers be shooting from the playing field itself.

Interviews: Interviews with coaches and players may be conducted on the field following the conclusion of the awards ceremonies. In order to allow the grounds crew to do its work, we ask your cooperation in conducting interviews outside the foul lines.

Notables

Defending State Champions in the Field

None.

Returning to State Finals from 2008

None.

Former State Champions in the Field

4A: Fort Wayne Snider 2006 (4A).

3A: Andrean 2005 (3A).

A: Lafayette Central Catholic 2004 (A), 2007 (A).

First-Time Participants in the State Finals

2A: Cass, Heritage Christian.

A: Vincennes Rivet.

Probable Starting Lineups

Lafayette Central Catholic

	No.	Name	Pos.
1.	26	Scott Windler	CF
2.	17	Cole Hruskovich	LF
3.	3	Dru Anthrop	SS
4.	6	Reed Drysdale	2B
5.	32	Tyler Chlid	C
6.	24	Taylor Glaze	P
7.	28	Chas Bobillo	3B
8.	5	Matt Combs	RF
9.	12	Austin Munn	DH
10.	44	Jason Aldridge	1B

Vincennes Rivet

	No.	Name	Pos.
1.	32	Mitchell Bahr	SS
2.	40	Tyler Vieke	RF
3.	27	Matt Sievers	1B
4.	24	Philip Halter	C
5.	17	Spencer Wirth	3B/P
6.	44	Cory Montgomery	CF
7.	12	Brady Mouzin	3B/P
8.	10	Derek Potter	2B
9.	38	Jordan Campbell	DH
10.	8	Emily Montgomery	LF

Cass

	No.	Name	Pos.
1.	7	Keith Lee	7
2.	11	Colton Zeck	2
3.	22	Damon Foreman	4
4.	16	Brody Edgerly	3
5.	8	Andrew Troutman	1
6.	6	Evan Depew	8
7.	15	Dave Diedrick	DH
8.	12	Tee Plank	5
9.	3	Drew Fowler	9
10.	21	Cam Cummings	6

Heritage Christian

	No.	Name	Pos.
1.	3	Cameron McWilliams	7
2.	5	Sterling Harpst	4
3.	6	Chris Ward	8
4.	17	Ryan Ledbetter	1
5.	7	Christian Rector	5
6.	15	Jeremy Sherrill	2
7.	9	Scott Kreeger	9
8.	2	Tanner Stis	6
9.	11	John Miley	3
10.

Andrean

	No.	Name	Pos.
1.	12	Kyle Kovach	CF
2.	3	Ryan Dineen	SS
3.	10	Adam Norton	P
4.	13	Kevin Franchetti	C
5.	5	Ken Mahala	3B
6.	24	Mike Pokers	2B
7.	6	Evan Rapacz	LF
8.	1	Tyler Ochi	DH
9.	21	Matt Doolin	1B
10.	2	Thomas Polus	RF

West Vigo

	No.	Name	Pos.
1.	2	Jordan Pearson	1
2.	5	Cameron Fagg	5
3.	3	Tyler Wampler	6
4.	32	Jeremy Lucas	2
5.	33	Aaron Welch	3
6.	8	Brodey McCalister	7
7.	22	Scott West	4
8.	30	Cody Thornton	9
9.	21	Dylan Aff	8

Fort Wayne Snider

	No.	Name	Pos.
1.	19	Spencer Anderson	LF
2.	26	Daniel Sullivan	CF
3.	24	Devon Rush	DH
4.	6	Drake Everson	P
5.	20	Alex Mitchell	C
6.	21	Cody Johnson	IB
7.	16	Kyle Bowman	RF
8.	12	Justin Scott	SS
9.	9	Nathan Kipfer	2B
10.	15	Lukas Richardson	3B

Westfield

	No.	Name	Pos.
1.	7	Zach Galyean	CF
2.	4	Andy Gehr	3B
3.	30	Kevin Plawecki	C
4.	24	Matt Hammel	1B
5.	27	Brandon O’Connor	LF
6.	21	Taylor Luna	RF
7.	20	Brandon Thomas	2B
8.	10	Andrew McCafferty	DH
9.	12	Nick Crouse	SS
10.	22	Kyle Kramp	P

Dave Stauffer Honored as Top Baseball Official

Dave Stauffer of Berne is the recipient of the 2009 Interscholastic Athletic Official Association Award for excellence in the sport of baseball. Stauffer will be honored in a special ceremony at this weekend’s state finals tournament.

Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports during the school year.

Stauffer was selected for this honor by a committee representing the officials associations. In Indiana, there are 26 associations made up of men and women who give up much of their personal time to assist in providing wholesome, worthwhile, and healthy activities for the student athletes in our state. Statewide, there are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports.

During his career, Stauffer has worked 10 regionals, three semi-states, and two state finals tournaments. He also played on the South Adams baseball team that finished as the state runner-up in 1972.

Stauffer has completed 27 years of officiating in the sports of baseball, basketball, and volleyball and has been a member of the Lime City Officials Association. He served as its Baseball Vice-President from 1988 to 1994 and the Board of Directors for four years.

Stauffer attended Indiana State University where he earned a Bachelors degree in Business. He has been engineering new product design at Elkhart Products Corporation for 23 years and has been with the company for 30 years. He has been married to his wife Anna for 28 years. They have two children, Todd and Jenna.

STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS

Softball State Leaders | Baseball State Leaders

NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE STATE

Have an interesting note? A conference or school record, coaching milestone or something else of interest? Please e-mail IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org for consideration.

Barr-Reeve Hall of Fame baseball coach Joe Rademacher turned in his resignation to the Barr-Reeve Community School Board on June 9. A Holland, Ind. native, University of Evansville graduate, and former Purple Aces baseball player, Rademacher guided the Vikings to seven sectional championships, two regional titles, and a Class A semistate title (1998) in 33 seasons in the Barr-Reeve dugout. Rademacher, who compiled a 407-384 record with Barr-Reeve, was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. Rademacher will continue to teach business at Barr-Reeve and will also continue to serve as the varsity assistant for Lady Viking basketball program.

IHSAA 08-09/40