News

Third-ranked Lafayette Central Catholic scored twice in the bottom half of the first inning which proved to be all it needed to snag a record eighth state championship with its 4-1 win over unranked Tecumseh.

In the first, the Knights’ Owen Munn led off with a double down right field line. Evan Dienhart then bunted back to the pitcher who overthrew the first baseman which allowed Munn to score while Dienhart advanced to second. Dienhart later stole third base and scored on Ryan Schummer’s sacrifice fly to centerfield.

It was all the Knights (27-6) would eventually need as the team won a record-tying eighth state championship (tied LaPorte and Andrean). All eight have come under the guidance of 25th-year coach Tim Bordenet. LCC is 8-2 all-time in state championship games.

Tecumseh (19-13) pulled within 2-1 in the fourth inning when Brody Julian scored from third on a fielding error by the Central Catholic shortstop. The Braves were able to load the bases with one out but winning pitcher Ben Mazur (9-1) struck out the next batter and induced a fly out to centerfield to end the uprising.

Central Catholic added runs in the fourth and fifth innings to provide the final margin.

Tecumseh, which was looking for its second baseball title (2003), was looking for the school’s third state championship of the school year and matching the softball team’s title of last weekend. The Braves were coached by fifth-year leader Ted Thompson.

Central Catholic’s Justin Brady named Mental Attitude recipient
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Justin Brady of Lafayette Central Catholic High School as the recipient of this year’s Phil Gardner Mental Attitude Award in Class 1A Baseball.

The first baseman for the Knights, Justin is a two-sport, four-year athlete starting for both the football and baseball teams. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.89 GPA. He was president of Central Catholic’s Champions Together program for Special Olympians, was senior class vice president and member of the National Honor Society.

Justin is the son of Scott and Cathy Brady of Lafayette, Indiana, and will attend Purdue University to study Accounting in the fall.

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 retired IHSAA Assistant Commissioner Phil Gardner who served 27 years with the IHSAA. He spent 18 years as a member of its Board of Directors and nine more years as assistant commissioner administering the baseball state tournament during that time.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA's corporate partner, presented $1,000 to the general scholarship fund at Central Catholic High School in the name of Justin Brady.