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Lafayette Central Catholic rallied for three late runs to tie the game and took a 4-3 decision in nine innings from Vincennes Rivet in the IHSAA Class A state championship game at Victory Field.

The win extended the Knights' state record string of championships to a fifth year (seventh overall) and was their 33rd straight tournament victory dating to 2009. It was also a state record-tying seventh title for 16th year coach Tim Bordenet who equaled LaPorte legend Ken Schreiber.

Trailing 3-0, Lafayette Central Catholic (31-5) came to life in the bottom of the sixth inning as Luke Fusiek led off with a double to centerfield. Two batters later, Adam Lovell singled scoring Fusiek. The Knights added two more in the seventh when they had to as Ryan DeBoy led off by reaching on a fielding error by the Rivet third baseman. Nigel Hensley pinch ran for DeBoy and advanced to second when Jackson Anthrop was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt by Cowan Olinger that moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd, Pete Metzinger's sac fly then scored Hensley. Down to their final out, Fusiek's clutch single up the middle allowed Anthrop to tie the game at 3-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Central Catholic's Ben Page, pinch running for Metzinger who took a lead off walk, scored the game-winning run from second on Lovell's single to left.

Winning pitcher Andrew Hubertz ended his high school career with a season record of 7-0. Fusiek finished 3-for-4 with a hit and an RBI. Lovell had a 2-for-4 day with two RBI.

Coach Bill Beard's Vincennes Rivet club (19-13) took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning. Central Catholic had not allowed a run in its previous six tournament games and was attempting to become the first school to win the tournament without giving up a run. But Rivet ended any of that talk by scoring single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Gavin Benock and Zach Templin both led Rivet going 2-for-4. Benock had an RBI and Templin a run scored. Colin Vieke accounted for the Patriots' other two runs. Rivet also fell to Lafayette Central Catholic in the 2009 championship game.

Colin Vieke of Vincennes Rivet Named Mental Attitude Award Winner
Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Colin Vieke of Rivet High School as the winner of this year’s L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award in Class A Baseball.

Vieke finished his senior year ranked third out of 22 students with a 3.55 GPA. He has been a 3-year member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and twice served as class president.

In addition to four years of baseball with the Patriots, he played four years of basketball, three years of tennis winning three sectional championships, and two years of cross country advancing to the semi-state twice.

He is the son of Tim and Lisa Vieke of Vincennes and plans to attend Purdue University to study Aviation. He also has a goal of joining the Marine Corps.

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 proud corporate partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Vincennes Rivet High School in the name of Vieke.