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Their long wait is finally over as the Rockville Rox secured the school's first state championship in any sport on Saturday defeating Shakamak 4-2 at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

After falling 3-2 in last year's Class A title game to this same Shakamak squad, Rockville (28-6) turned the tables in beating the defending champs by getting all the runs it would need in the bottom of the first inning.

Trailing 1-0, Ben Cunningham drew a leadoff walk and was followed by Kyle Paddock's single to center. Dalton Laney then reached on a fielder's choice at third base and Craig Overpeck reached on an error. That gave way to Tyler Rapp's base-clearing triple over the head of the Shakamak centerfielder with one out gave Rockville a 3-1 lead. Kaleb Huxford then sacrificed to left field scoring Rapp.

Parker Green's bases loaded single through the left side scored Dylan Collins giving Shakamak on top 1-0 in top of first inning. The Lakers added another run in the fifth inning as Mike Huddleston's double over the leftfielder's head scored Braxton Yeryar who was hit by a pitch and moved to second a sacrifice bunt by Braden Scott.

Laney (10-0) was the winning pitcher striking out 12 in 7 innings on the mound for Rockville. Yeryar (8-3) suffered the loss.

Fourteenth year Rockville coach Bob Kyle just retired from teaching in North Central Parke Schools after 37 years. A school of 233 students in west central Indiana, Rockville was one of the earliest members of the Indiana High School Athletic Association becoming an official member in 1905.

Shakamak (21-7) was coached by first year mentor Todd Gambill.

Both teams will play in the Class 2A state tournament the next two seasons due to the Tournament Success Factor.

Rockville’s Luke Monroe earns Mental Attitude award
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Luke Monroe of Rockville High School as the winner of this year’s L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class A Baseball.

The Rox’s team captain, Monroe was also an All-Wabash River Conference cross country runner this past year. In addition to being a leader on the field, Monroe led by example in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society earning a cumulative 3.7 GPA, and by volunteering as an RHS Peer Tutor. He also earned Rockville High School’s Mental Attitude Award for both Baseball and Cross Country.

He is the son of Tom Monroe and Shelly Riggs of Rockville and will attend Indiana State University where he'll study Environmental Science.

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.

The IHSAA Executive Committee presented a $1,000 scholarship to Rockville High School in the name of Luke Monroe.