By RICHIE HALL
JASPER – For the past couple weeks, the University baseball team has been cruising through the post-season tournament.
The Trailblazers easily won their sectional and regional, then took a trip to Jasper’s Ruxer Field on Saturday for a Class 1A south semi-state re-match with Tecumseh. University encountered a little bit of resistance, but broke the game open in the third inning and rode the momentum to a 4-1 victory over the Braves.
As a result, the ‘Blazers are going to the 1A state championship game for the second consecutive year. The title game takes place next Monday, June 17, at Victory Field.
“I thought we played as close to a flawless game, other than the first inning,” said University coach Chris Estep. But while the ‘Blazers have been sailing through each step of the tournament, coach Chris Estep wanted to point out something after his team won on Saturday: “Us going back to state was so much more difficult than us getting there for the first time, because we had such a target on our back. Everybody that we’ve been playing against has been looking out for us all year.”
“I think the greatest thing we did all year was to make sure that we made our schedule much, much, much, much more tough,” said Estep. “We faced bigger schools. We took some whippings, but at the end of the day, it’s helped propel us to this point.”
Tecumseh had that target in their sights in the first inning. The Braves scored their run when Jalen Oxley batted in Ethan Hall. The score would remain 1-0 until the bottom of the third inning.
Kolton Stevens led off for the Trailblazers, and he sent a base hit into left field. Ethan Johnson came in to run for Stevens, and he moved to second when Ben Ewer drew a walk.
That brought up Dawson Estep, and his right field double scored Johnson and moved Ewer to third. Reese Sharp was next, and he hit his own double, this one to left field. Ewer and Dawson scored, giving University a 3-1 lead.
But the ‘Blazers weren’t done just yet. Alex Washlock smacked a single into right field, and that scored Thomas Price, who was running for Sharp. University now led 4-1, and would hold that lead for the remainder of the game.
“It’s an amazing thing,” said Washlock. “Everyone came together this year. Everyone started working hard. We had our minds set on state from the moment we came out to practice the first day. So it’s an amazing opportunity to be here and to live the dream.”
Sharp and Stevens both finished the game with two hits.
Sharp also had an outstanding game on the mound, going six and two-thirds innings before reaching the pitch-count limit, and tossing eight strikeouts. Tyler Galyean came in at the end and delivered the final out, a groundout to second base.
“My adrenaline was pumping,” said Sharp. “I felt great. Once I toned in my pitches, throwing strikes, it was over.”
University will play Washington Township (Porter County) in next Monday’s 1A state final. The Senators stunned Rossville 13-8 to win the north semi-state at Plymouth.
“We got the experience,” said Dawson Estep. “We know what the goal is. We want to be holding that big trophy with the blue ribbons at the end of the game. It’s really exciting.”
University 4, Tecumseh 1
University AB R H RBI
Dawson Estep 3 1 1 1
Reese Sharp 4 0 2 2
Alex Washlock 2 0 1 1
Tyler Galyean 3 0 0 0
Ben Westerkamm 3 0 1 0
Adam Oxley 3 0 0 0
Matt Moore 2 0 0 0
Kolton Stevens 3 0 2 0
Ben Ewer 1 1 0 0
Thomas Price 0 1 0 0
Ethan Johnson 0 1 0 0
Totals 24 4 7 4
Score by innings
Tecumseh 100 000 0 – 1 5 2
University 004 000 x – 4 7 1
2B: Estep, Sharp. SAC: Washlock. HBP: Ewer.
University pitching IP R ER H
Sharp (W) 6.2 1 0 5
Galyean (S) 0.1 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Sharp 8. Walks: Sharp 5.
The University baseball team will be making a return trip to the Class 1A state finals. The Trailblazers won the Jasper semi-state on Saturday, beating Tecumseh 4-1. (Richie Hall)