Avon, IN---Last Saturday four teams entered the class 4A Regional at Avon HS with hopes of maintaining the opportunity to compete for a state championship. In the early games the hopes died quickly for both Northview and Anderson.  In game one Northview ran into a hot Roncalli squad losing 16-0 in five innings.   In game 2, Anderson fell to Brownsburg 13-0 in five innings, setting up an interesting matchup for the regional final.

Roncalli senior RHP and no. 1 starter Colin Hawk (Cincinnati) was able to start game two due to the earlier blowout against Northview.  Hawk has pitched in every game this state tournament due to both good scheduling and two lopsided victories.  Taking the mound for Brownsburg was sophomore LHP Ty McCoy.  The Bulldogs also had senior ace RHP Jordan Deal (Belmont University) ready to go, as he pitched very little in the game against Anderson earlier in the day.

The Bulldogs jumped on the board first scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Senior OF John Moore reached base on a base hit, and then advanced to second on a pitch in the dirt.  Senior catcher Bobby Carr then singled, scoring Moore to take the 1-0 lead.  With runners on first and third, senior David Oliger smashed an RBI double to give Brownsburg a two run lead.

The Rebels got a run back in the second on sophomore Aaron Schnell’s RBI double, scoring senior Jordan Reeser who doubled earlier in the inning.  Roncalli tied the game at 2-2 in the top half of the third off a RBI hit from senior Nick Wright.  However, Brownsburg took a 4-2 lead in the bottom half on an error.

With Deal now on the mound for the Bulldogs, Roncalli led off the fifth with a Joe Ardizzone (2012) walk.  Ardizzone moved to second on a ground out and then advanced to third on Jordan Reeser’s base hit.  Deal was able to strike out senior Chase Steinbrunner, giving the Bulldogs two outs.  With runners still at first and third, Schnell ripped a two RBI triple to tie things up at four a piece.  In the bottom of the fifth, the Bulldogs threatened with runners at first and second and only one out, but junior Sam Sampen’s liner was caught and Roncalli was able to double off the runner at first for an inning ending double play. 

Deal shut down the Rebel’s hitters in the top of the sixth with a fly ball out and two strikeouts.  Brownsburg again threatened in the bottom of the sixth with a runner in scoring position, but Hawk managed to end the inning unscathed, keeping the game tied at 4-4 heading into the seventh.

With semi-state on the line and the Rebels down to their last at bats, Ardizzone again walked to lead off the inning.  He was able to move to second on Wright’s fielder’s choice.  Deal walked the next two batters loading the bases and bringing up Schnell.  With Schnell desperately trying to just make contact to bring in the go ahead run, Deal’s fastball ran too far inside, plunking Schnell in the upper forearm and bringing in the go ahead run.  Deal then struck out the next two batters, ending the potential for a big inning and leaving the score at 5-4 in favor of Roncalli.

Despite the pressure of holding a slim one run lead, Hawk got three consecutive outs, one a strikeout, to end the game and send the Rebels to within one game of the state championship game.  Hawk earned the win, striking out five Brownsburg hitters and did not allow a run in the final four innings. 

Roncalli will take on New Palestine at Plainfield HS at approximately 3:30 pm this Saturday, with the winner earning a spot in the class 4A state championship game.