2A Semi-state preview: University has sights on third trip to state

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

Tomorrow’s 2A southern semi-state is hosted by Castle High School at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium on the campus of the University of Evansville, home of the Purple Aces.

The University Trailblazers (20-11) square off against the defending 2A state champ No. 12 Providence Pioneers (15-7) in the first game at 11 a.m. Game two has No. 3 Evansville Mater Dei (21-7) facing the No. 7 Shenandoah Raiders (22-4) at around 2 p.m. The championship will be at 7 p.m.

The Trailblazers won Sectional 42 at Park Tudor 9-0 over Monrovia and 19-2 over Cardinal Ritter. The hosts Park Tudor challenged them, but University won their sixth sectional title, edging the Panthers in the championship, 1-0 in eight innings.

They were 10-5 winners over No. 9 Greencastle for their fourth regional title in school history last Saturday at Mitchell High School.

The Blazers also have two other semi-state championships. Head coach Chris Estep guided University to the 2018 1A state title game, losing to Daleville 4-2 in nine innings and won 1A in 2019 over Washington Township, 4-1.

Beckett Suh (.352) leads with three home runs, 31 RBIs, seven doubles and four triples, while Charlie Ranek and Cooper Cammack have 26 RBIs, and Ryan Castetter has scored 38 runs.

Caleb Stocker has 48 strikeouts in 57.1 innings and Cam Rady has fanned 45 in 31 frames.

Providence has 23 sectional, 9 regional and three semi-state trophies. The Pioneers are three-time 2A champions over Lafayette Central Catholic (2016), Eastside (2021) and Illiana Christian (2024).

Mater Dei has 13 sectional, 10 regional and five semi-state titles. The Wildcats were 1999 2A state champs over Jimtown and runner-up in 1998 (Alexandria), 2012 (Northfield), 2014 (Wapahani) and 3A in 2007 (Norwell).

Shenandoah has won 13 sectionals and three regional championships. They last appeared in semi-state in 1987.