Prep Baseball Report

1A Kokomo Semi-State: Daleville Bests Northfield for Another State Title Shot


Steve Krah
PBR Indiana Correspondent

KOKOMO — Daleville punched its ticket to the IHSAA Class 1A state championship baseball game with well-timed offensive punch and pitching punch-outs.

The Broncos (21-9) beat Northfield 8-2 Saturday, June 9 in the 1A Kokomo Semistate for the right to meet Plainfield Semistate winner University (28-6) next weekend at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

Daleville broke the semistate game open with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and sophomore right-hander Evan Etchison (7 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts) pitched a complete game to put the Broncos in the state title game for the second time in three years (Daleville won the 1A state crown in 2016).

“I was hoping we could bust it open earlier,” said Daleville coach Terry Turner. “We left quite a few runners on base (nine in the first four innings and 11 for the game). “(Senior) Ryan (Hale) had the big hit that busted it open for us.”

Daleville had two hits and the Norse (16-15) committed three errors during the uprising on the turf at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.

Freshman Cayden Gothrup, freshman J.T. Nelson, junior Josh Price, sophomore Max Stecher and Hale all scored for the Broncos.

Gothrup was forced home on a walk drawn by Stecher.

Courtesy runner Nelson (running after Etchison reached on a bunt

single) and Price (who walked) scored on Hale’s two-run single to center.

Hale was the first batter to face Northfield junior right-hander Nate Drancik (1 2/3 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts), who came on after senior right-hander Blake Harner (4 1/3 innings, 7 runs,

4 hits, 7 walks, 5 strikeouts) reached 117 pitches (the one-day limit is 120).

Stecher scored on a wild pitch.

Hale trotted home on sophomore Jared Waltermire’s two-out single to left.

The Norse left runners at second and third base against Etchison in a scoreless top of the sixth and went down 1-2-3 in the seventh with two strikeouts and a groundout.

“I just wanted to keep throwing strikes,” said Etchison. “I struggled in the first inning. Once I fell (into a rhythm), I wanted to keep going.

“I wanted to let my defense work behind me. That was the main thing.

“My fastball was the best I’ve thrown in awhile. I couldn’t get ahold of the 12-6 (breaking ball) laces. The ball was real slick. As the game went along, I adjusted.”

Etchison was appreciative of the five-run.

“That was awesome,” said Etchison. “I love insurance runs. Our offense is the best around. I believe that.

“We work so hard practicing and stuff. We’ve really come together as a team. We’re just playing really well right now.”

Etchison set down his ninth straight batter by getting a 1-2-3 inning in scoreless top of the fifth for Northfield.

Daleville tallied one run in the bottom of the fourth to assume a 3-2 advantage.

Sophomore Jimmy Bowen led off with a walk. Price reached on a bunt single and Bowen went to third base on a errant throw on the play.

Stecher then grounded to junior shortstop Chance Hartman, who threw to sophomore catcher Braden Ripplinger to cut down Bowen at the plate for the first out.

With the bases loaded, junior Peyton Smith lofted a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Price with a go-ahead run.

Harner avoided further damage by getting another strikeout for the third out to leave the bases loaded.

Etchison retired the Norse in order with two strikeouts and a pop-up in a scoreless top of the fourth.

Northfield stranded a runner at second base against Etchison in the top of a score-free third.

Freshman Clayton Tomlinson rapped a lead-off single to center and moved to second base on Hartman’s sacrifice before Etchison coaxed a pop-up and recorded a strikeout.

The Broncos left runners at first and second base against Harner in the bottom of a scoreless second.

Bowen led off with a single to left and Price walked before two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice ended the Daleville threat.

Northfield scored one run against Etchison in the top of the second for a 2-2 tie.

Senior Jared Vigar led off with a triple to right and scored on Ripplinger’s sacrifice fly to center.

The Broncos tallied a pair of two-out runs against Harner in the bottom of the first to go ahead 2-1.

Price drew a lead-off walk, moved to second base on Hale’s sacrifice and third base on a wild pitch.

One out later, Smith’s double down the line in left drove in Price with the tying run.

Gothrup was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in Smith with the go-ahead run.

Daleville left the bases loaded.

Northfield score a two-out run against Etchison in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead.

Harner singled up the middle and senior Matt Coe followed with triple over the center fielder’s head that plated Harner.

Norse coach Clint Davis saw his team’s culture change after a midseason losing skid.

“Kudos to our kids,” said Davis. “They made that culture change.

“I’m so proud of the way they changed from a month ago until to now as a team. That goes to how our seniors and upperclassmen handled things.

“Our kids maybe tried to do too much at the plate at the end. These are 17- and 18-year-old kids that don’t want to take off the jersey.

None of us do. It means a lot to them. It means a lot to me.”

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