By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
If there’s a ranked baseball team anywhere in Indiana, chances are University has played, or will play it.
The Trailblazers have taken on a number of teams rated in the top 10 in the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings. University is playing three of them this week, starting with Class 3A No. 2 Western, whom the ‘Blazers hosted Tuesday at Grand Park.
University is receiving votes in the Class 2A poll, and played an incredible game against the Panthers before dropping a 1-0 decision. Western scored its run in the top of the seventh inning, but the Trailblazers got two runners on in the bottom of the seventh.
“I thought our kids were outstanding. I thought their kids were outstanding,” said University coach Chris Estep. “Every time we play them, it’s this kind of a game. It’s really exciting. I love playing Western.”
The Panthers were led by their star pitcher Mitchell Dean, who is headed to the University of Louisville next fall.
“I thought we had extremely competitive at-bats against a guy that may one day pitch in the big leagues,” said Estep. “That kid is really, really good.”
University was held to just one hit, a fifth-inning single by Sam Woodward. But the Trailblazers’ defense kept Western from scoring more than one run. As a result, University still had a chance in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Owen Schellhase reached on error with two outs, then moved to second base when Woodward drew a walk. Dean got a strikeout for the third out.
Dean finished the game with 11 strikeouts and three walks. Trailblazers’ pitcher Seth Hogg held his own, with seven strikeouts and one walk. Western got eight hits in the game, the biggest a one-out triple in the third inning. But University took care of that with a groundout and a flyout.
“I thought Seth Hogg was outstanding tonight,” said Estep. “I thought all around, it was a great game. It’s a little bit of a barometer for where we are as a team.”
University is 9-6 overall. Two of those wins have come against teams that are currently ranked: The ‘Blazers beat 1A No. 1 Lafayette Central Catholic 10-2 on April 15, then defeated 2A No. 9 South Central Union Mills 6-3 on April 22.
University travels to Seton Catholic today for a Pioneer Conference game, then plays Thursday at Cathedral, the No. 5 team in 4A. The ‘Blazers then travel to Bloomington North on Saturday for a doubleheader with the Cougars, who are receiving votes in 4A.