MORRISTOWN – The University Trailblazers captured their first IHSAA regional baseball title with a 3-0 win over Hauser in the Regional 15 final at Morristown High School.
Cade Carlson was masterful on the mound, throwing a complete game one-hitter striking out a career high 18 batters. Garrett Hill laced a two run triple to left center in the top of the seventh to break a scoreless tie as Prep Baseball Report’s top ranked team defeated PBR’s third ranked team in a classic pitching duel to improve to 27-5 on the season and advance to the Plainfield semi-state to play the 21-9 Tecumseh Braves.
Carlson carried a no-hitter in to the sixth inning before Hauser’s Shawn Miller drove a double to left center. Carlson recorded a strike out before issuing an intentional walk to Trey Johnson. The Blazers right hander then recorded two more strikeouts to escape the jam.
Ben Westerkamm pinch hit to lead off the top of the seventh and drew an eight pitch walk after falling behind in the count 0-2. Ryan Williams beat out a bunt to put runners on first and second. Hauser made a pitching change, bringing in staff ace Sam Meek who had thrown 83 pitches in their semi-final win over Shakamak.
Blazers leadoff hitter Dawson Estep battled Meek for 10 pitches before being called out on strikes. Hill then hit the first pitch he saw from Meek to the fence in left center, scoring Westerkamm and Williams. Hill then scored on a balk to round out the scoring.
Carlson struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. The last 13 outs Carlson recorded came via strikeout. Hauser put just four balls in play in the game. In addition to Martin’s double, the Jets managed just a ground out to second, a bunt fielded by the catcher and a foul pop out bunt. After throwing a no-hitter in University’s Sectional opener against Bethesda Christian, Carlson has allowed one hit in 14 innings of tournament play, striking out 34.
“Cade was super dominant tonight. He puts us on his back and we rode him like a borrowed mule. He has come in to his own” said University coach Chris Estep. “It was complete team effort. Dawson (Estep) and Garrett (Hill) hit the ball well. Kolton Stevens caught a great game today. He was absolutely phenomenal behind the plate. Ben Westerkamm had an outstanding at bat off the bench. We talk about staying prepared on the bench. Ben’s at bat (the walk) was the game changer tonight.”
University reached the final with a 9-4 win over Indianapolis Lutheran in the morning game.
The Trailblazers got on the board in the third inning. Ryan Williams singled with one out, stole second and scored on Dawson Estep’s single to center. Garrett Hill was intentionally walked before Brock Moore sacrificed the runners to second and third. Freshman Tyler Galyean drove a pitch to left field for a two run single and a 3-0 University lead.
The Saints answered in the top of the fourth, taking a 4-3 lead. University answered right back in the bottom of the fourth. Williams reached on a one out error and scored on a double to right center by Estep.
Freshman Ben Ewer led off the bottom of the fifth for University and tripled to right center on an eight pitch at bat after falling behind 0-2 in the count. Cade Carlson’s single put University on top 5-4. Asher Thompson reached on a bunt single before Williams singled to score Carlson. Thompson scored on a wild pitch and Estep walked. Brock Moore doubled to right center to score Thompson and Estep for a 9-4 lead.
Hill worked the last three innings for the win, striking out nine and allowing no runs on just two hits. Moore pitched the first four innings, striking out six.
Carlson was 3-4 while Estep and Williams had two hits and two runs each. Estep, Moore and Galyean each drove in two runs.
University 9, Indianapolis Lutheran 4
University AB R H RBI
Dawson Estep 3 2 2 2
Garrett Hill 1 2 1 0
Brock Moore 3 0 1 2
Tyler Galyean 3 0 1 2
Ben Ewer 3 1 1 0
Cade Carlson 4 1 3 1
Asher Thompson 4 1 1 0
Kolton Stevens 4 0 0 0
Ryan Williams 3 2 2 1
Totals 28 9 12 8
Score by innings
Lutheran 000 400 0 – 4 6 1
University 003 150 x – 9 12 0
3B: Ewer. 2B: Estep, Hill, Moore. SB: Estep 2, Williams. SAC: Moore.
University pitching IP R ER H
Moore 4 4 4 4
Hill (W) 3 0 0 2
Strikeouts: Hill 9, Moore 6. Walks: Moore 4, Hill 2.
University 3, Hauser 0
University AB R H RBI
Dawson Estep 4 0 2 0
Garrett Hill 4 1 2 2
Brock Moore 3 0 0 0
Tyler Galyean 4 0 2 0
Ben Ewer 3 0 0 0
Cade Carlson 2 0 0 0
Asher Thompson 3 0 0 0
Kolton Stevens 2 0 0 0
Ben Westerkamm 0 1 0 0
Ryan Williams 3 1 2 0
Totals 28 3 8 2
Score by innings
University 000 000 3 – 3 8 0
Hauser 000 000 0 – 0 1 1
3B: Estep, Hill. SB: Galyean 2. SAC: Carlson.
University pitching IP R ER H
Carlson 7 0 0 1
Strikeouts: Carlson 18. Walks: Carlson 3.
The University baseball team held off Hauser 3-0 to win its first ever regional championship Saturday at Morristown. Cade Carlson threw 18 strikeouts in the championship game. The Trailblazers will play Tecumseh next Saturday in the semi-state. (Photo provided)