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The pitching of Jordan Meece, and a strong offense to support him, combined to propel the South Spencer Rebels to their second Class 2A state championship on Saturday afternoon. Meece pitched a complete game five-hitter, and also went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI at the plate as part of a 13-hit attack for the Rebels, who defeated Hanover Central, 8-1.

Four players had two hits or more for South Spencer, including shortstop Jared Lauer, who finished 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Shelby Lashley and Zeke Harmon had two hits apiece. On the mound, Meece kept the Wildcats off balance all afternoon; he finished with 5 strikeouts and just 1 walk.

Hanover Central starting pitcher Adam Wellwerts loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning, but escaped after yielding just one run. Wellwerts regrouped and pitched well until running into trouble again in the sixth, when four of the first five Rebels hitters reached base against him. Nic Sampognaro finished the inning on the mound for the Wildcats, but not before South Spencer plated their final run.

The Rebels complete their championship season with a record of 24-6 for head coach Brian Kuester. The win marks the second state title in the last five seasons for the school; the Rebels defeated Heritage, 13-0, to win the Class 2A title in 2007.

Hanover Central, led by head coach Doug Nelson, finishes with a 22-6 record. Nelson guided the Wildcats to the program’s first sectional, regional and semistate titles during the 2011 season.

SOUTH SPENCER’S AARON SEILER NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
Following the game, South Spencer’s Aaron Seiler was named the winner of the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award for Class 2A Baseball by the IHSAA Executive Committee.

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.

Seiler is a three-year starter in right field for the Rebels and also has participated all four years in swimming and tennis. He’s been involved in his school’s Beta Club, Future Farmers of America, the Fish-n-Game Club and also assists the coaching staff with the middle school swimming program. Beyond his extra-curricular school activities, he also works at the local orchard owned by his family.

Seiler plans to attend the University of Southern Indiana and study Biology/Pre-Chiropractic.

He is the son of John and Kim Seiler of Rockport, Ind. Aaron’s brother, John, won the same mental attitude award following the 2007 state championship game.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the proud corporate partner of all IHSAA state tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to South Spencer High School in the name of Seiler.