Mike McGraw
Hoosier Authority
For most of Wednesday evening’s Regional title game with
Brebeuf, Crawfordsville had a tough time putting runners in scoring position.
Brebeuf will take little solace in that fact. That is because when the
Athenians did produce legitimate scoring chances, they were lethal in cashing
in. The result was two very big innings; a 5-run second and a 4-run sixth. Those
outbursts, along with a solid pitching performance from left-hander Cameron
Hobson, were enough to generate a 9-3 victory and a regional championship.
The night certainly did not start off looking like the
Athenians would be doing any celebrating. Crawfordsville pitching had not
allowed a run in sectional play, but two two-out hits plated two runs for
Brebeuf in the very first inning. The Braves’ Cody McFarland coasted through
the bottom of the inning, allowing only one base runner, and the score was 2-0
in favor of the visitors from Indianapolis
after one frame.
Hobson settled down in the second inning and began mowing
down Brebeuf hitters with regularity. In the bottom of the inning, the lower
end of the Athenian lineup stirred up some trouble. Cody Dowell walked to lead
off the inning, followed by a single from catcher Mitchell Ray. That put
runners on first and second and brought hard hitting first baseman Andrew Swart
to the plate. What followed may well have been the key play in the game.
Crawfordsville coach John Froedge instructed Swart to lay
down a bunt to advance the runners. Swart bunted down the third base line just
a little harder than intended. The ball was fielded by Brebeuf third baseman
Mitch Overley who thought he could beat Dowell to the third base bag. He was
wrong. He then whirled and fired across the diamond a fraction too late to get
Swart at first. Now, the bases were loaded with nobody out, and the floodgates
soon opened.
Blake Harris followed with a walk to plate the first
Athenian run. One out later, Hobson redeemed himself for the shaky first inning
by crushing a 2-run double. Brett McKinney capped off the inning with a single
that plated two more runs. It would not be the last time McKinney would be heard from on this night.
The game settled down through the middle innings. Hobson was
in complete control for the Athenians, while Brebeuf’s Charles Eberhardt held
Crawfordsville in check with an outstanding relief job on the hill. Brebeuf did
scratch across a run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 5-3.
That produced the dramatic, and deciding, sixth inning. In
the top half of the frame, Brebeuf pinch-hitter Tommy Green laced a hit to left
and took advantage of a two base error to stand on third with only one out.
Hobson, however, mowed down the next two Brave hitters to quash the rally. That
is when outside forces came into play.
As it has been all spring, weather played a role in the
outcome of this game. As the bottom of the sixth began, lightning flashed over
the center field wall and the game was put into a 35-minute delay in accordance
with IHSAA safety rules. The discussion throughout the stadium during the
stoppage in play was the effect it would have on the opposing pitchers. It didn’t
take long to find out. When the teams returned to the field, Eberhardt simply
didn’t have the same stuff. He struck out the leadoff hitter for the Athenians,
but then Crawfordsville created a little lightning of their own. Harris blasted
a triple. Pinch-hitter J.D. Rice scored Harris with a ringing double. Brebeuf
intentionally walked Hobson, but it didn’t slow the onslaught. Two batters
later, McKinney
struck again with a double scoring two. Scott Hunt capped it off with an RBI
single. Suddenly, it was 9-3 and the suspense of how the delay would affect Hobson
was a moot point. Froedge decided his hard throwing senior had done enough, and
Steven Rice came in and finished the job in the seventh, allowing only one
runner.
The lightning delay was not the only way weather affected
this contest. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday and had to be
postponed. It was then moved to McCutcheon on Wednesday because of field
conditions at Crawfordsville. As a result of the postponement, Crawfordsville
will head to Jasper for the semi-state with some mild pitching concerns. Andrew
Swart, an eleven game winner, is completely fresh. Hobson, however, will
contribute whatever innings he throws, on just two days rest.
Hoosier Authority spoke with Coach Froedge and several
players after the game. Come back later to see all the video from the champion
Athenians.