By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
INDIANAPOLIS – Heritage Christian numbered one more student than did Cass in this year’s Class 2A enrollment, but that numerological difference ballooned to eight when it came time to decide the 2A baseball state championship June 20 at Victory Field.
In a rematch of the state’s 2A football title game won 17-14 by Heritage Christian, it once again was the ninth-ranked Eagles that piled up an insurmountable lead in cruising to an 11-3 victory. The win was the school’s first-ever in baseball and completed a spectacular all-seasons state title streak of championships in football, girls basketball, and baseball.
The stars were numerous on this day for 16th-year coach Dan Ambrose’s Eagles (25-6), who pounded out 15 hits while playing errorless defense in rolling out to a 10-0 lead after four at-bats. But none was brighter than senior Joe Perrott, who led everyone in going 3 for 4 with two runs batted in while throwing 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before allowing a pair of late runs.
That stint on the hill in replacement of junior starter David Ledbetter included an immediate bases-loaded strikeout of Cass senior catcher Colton Zeck in the bottom of the second to maintain a 6-1 Heritage Christan lead. The Eagles, who had scored three runs in each of the first two innings, then plated four more in the fourth and another in the sixth to seize a commanding 11-1 advantage.
Stay tuned for more story! Till then, enjoy the post-game video interviews and photo gallery!!
Cass’ Lee named Mental Attitude Award winner
Keith Lee of Cass was recognized by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s recipient of the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class 2A baseball. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the school in his name.
The award is presented annually to an outstanding senior participant who has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability. The award is named in honor of the late L.V. Phillips, who served as the second commissioner of the IHSAA from 1945-1962.
Lee, the Cass left fielder at today’s game, has been a starter for the Kings’ varsity baseball team for the past three years. He was named Second Team All-Loganland as a sophomore, First Team All-Loganland as a junior and senior, and was on the Pharos-Tribune All-Star team as a junior and senior. Keith also played football and basketball for Cass.
Keith finished his high school career 13th in his class of 129 students, scoring an impressive 1400 on his SAT and carrying a 3.42 grade point average. He was a member of SADD, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Key Club, and the Letterman’s Club.
The son of Troy and Margaret Lee of Walton will attend Ball State University in the fall to study physical therapy.
The box score:
Heritage Christian 11 (25-6)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
Cameron McWilliams lf…. 2 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 4
Steven Jones ph……… 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sterling Harpst 2b……. 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 0
Jeff Miley ph/2b…….. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
Chris Ward cf………… 3 3 1 1 0 1 2 0 0
Brad Robbins ph……… 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Ryan Ledbetter ss…….. 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
Tanner Stis ph/ss……. 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0
Christian Rector 3b…… 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
Brendon Burke ph…….. 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
David Ledbetter p…….. 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Joe Perrott p……….. 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
Jeremy Sherrill c…….. 4 0 2 2 1 0 9 0 0
Jordan Slone pr……… 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Scott Kreeger rf……… 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2
Roman Coffer ph/rf…… 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3
John Miley 1b………… 3 0 2 0 1 0 5 0 0
Totals………………. 36 11 15 7 6 7 21 5 12
Cass 3 (20-9)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
Keith Lee lf/cf………. 3 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0
Colton Zeck c………… 3 1 0 0 1 2 9 2 3
Damon Foreman 2b/p……. 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 0
Brody Edgerly 1b……… 4 0 2 2 0 0 3 0 1
Tyler Yeakley pr…….. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Andrew Troutman p/2b….. 3 0 0 0 1 2 3 2 0
Evan Depew cf/p………. 4 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0
David Diedrick dh/rf….. 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 2
Drew Fowler rf/cf…….. 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 3
Nate Dowden ph………. 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cam Cummings ss………. 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 1
Tee Plank 3b/lf………. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Totals………………. 28 3 7 3 6 9 21 10 10
Score by innings R H E
Heritage Christian…330 401 0 – 11 15 0
Cass…………………..010 000 2 – 3 7 3
E: D. Foreman; Fowler; Plank. DP: Cass 2.
LOB: Heritage Christian 12; Cass 10. 2B: Ward;
Rector; Perrott. HBP: Ward. SF: R. Ledbetter.
SB: McWilliams; Ward. CS: Rector.
Heritage Christian IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
David Ledbetter….. 1.2 2 1 1 3 2 7 10
Joe Perrott……… 5.1 5 2 2 3 7 21 24
Cass IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
Andrew Troutman….. 0.1 3 3 3 1 1 4 6
Damon Foreman……. 3.0 5 7 3 3 1 16 20
Evan Depew………. 3.2 7 1 1 2 5 16 18
Win: Perrott (5-1). Loss: Troutman (6-2).
WP : D. Foreman; Troutman. HBP: by D. Foreman (Ward).
Umpires: HP Wayne Patterson, 1B T. Neuenschwander,
2B Mark Mettler, 3B Anthony Turk
Start: 1:12 p.m. Time: 2:31
Weather: Clear, 81 degrees, 13 mph (l-r)
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