Prep Baseball Report

Eastside's Owen Willard Throws a Perfect Game while also Hitting for the Cycle


Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

Eastside High School senior Owen Willard arguably had the most impressive game of any player in Indiana High School Baseball history this week. On Wednesday April 20th at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, home of the Fort Wayne Tincaps the High-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres, the Purdue-Fort Wayne recruit not only pitched a perfect game, but also hit for the cycle.  

A PBR Indiana Preseason All-State First Team selection, Willard compiled 10 strikeouts in Eastside’s 14-0 win over Prairie Heights.  Offensively, the right-handed hitter finished 4-4 with a RBI and 3R. Willard led off the game with a homerun to left, doubled in the second, tripled in the fourth and singled in the fifth.

When asked about his inconceivable performance on the field that night  Willard said, “ After the game, it really didn't fully sink in what just happened. I was obviously very excited, but I think some of my teammates were just as excited as me if not more. I just thought it was crazy how many people reached out to me about the game and congratulated me on the accomplishment. It was such a surreal moment. It was overall just a fun night that I will never forget!”

Eastside is off to another good start this spring at 7-3 with hopes of returning to this year's 2A state finals after finishing as runner-up in 2021.

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