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Senior center fielder Ryan Hale singled in the go-ahead run to spark a two-run uprising in the top of the ninth inning to lift Daleville to its second Class A state title in three seasons.

In the first extra-inning affair in Class A since 2013, coach Terry Turner’s Broncos finished the season with 10-straight victories and a 22-9 record.

University, seeking its first state championship in any sport, had a chance to pull the game out in the bottom of the eighth as Ben Ewer tried to score from second base on a misplay by Daleville’s infield, but was tagged out at the plate.

University tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth as Garrett Hill scored on a throwing error. Neither team could break through over the next two innings to send the game to extras.

Peyton Smith pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to pick up the victory for the Broncos, who beat Lanesville to win the championship in 2016.

Hale had two hits and two RBI in the contest, while teammates Max Stecher scored twice and Jared Waltermire also drove in two.

University, coached by Chris Estep, finished 28-7 after coming into the final on a 16-game winning streak.

University’s Ryan Williams named Mental Attitude recipient 
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Ryan Williams of University High School as the winner of this year’s L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class A Baseball.

Ryan has excelled in athletics, the classroom, and the community. Ryan, the team’s centerfielder, has four years of varsity baseball and soccer under his belt. He has been named Most Outstanding Player (2016), Most Outstanding Offensive Player (2017), PAAC All-Conference Player and District 2 First Team All-State.

In his community, Ryan has received recognition and appreciation for multiple community service activities. He is an active volunteer with Gleaners Food Bank, St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry, Witherspoon Food Pantry and volunteers at church. Ryan also participates in Jack & Jill of America, the Boys & Girls Club, Black Affinity Club and Blaze Craze, which is the student driven athletic spirit club. 

Ryan is the son of Raifael and Sabrina Williams of Zionsville, Indiana.  He plans to attend Morehouse College and study kinesiology and health science, while minoring in business. 

The award is annually presented to an outstanding senior participant in each state championship game who has best demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in baseball. The award is named in honor of the late L.V. Phillips, who served as the second commissioner of the IHSAA from 1945-62.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA's corporate partner, presented a $1,000 to the general scholarship fund at University High School in the name of Ryan Williams.