By Rhett Cochran
Contributing Writer
Class 4A third-ranked Brownsburg, the 2005 Class 4A state champion, went 3-1 recently in baseball games against three different opponents. Here’s a rundown:
May 2: 4A #3 Brownsburg 2, Jasper 1; 4A #13 Westfield 13, 4A #3 Brownsburg 0
BROWNSBURG – May 2 was a mixed bag for Brownsburg as the Bulldogs played host to two different teams: 3A Jasper and 4A Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Westfield. The split doubleheader was made necessary by heavy and steady rains May 1-2 that had twice caused the postponement of the Bulldogs’ second game against Westfield.
In the Saturday opener, Brownsburg sent freshman right-hander Isaac Sampen to the hill against Jasper’s Wildcats. Sampen allowed only four hits and one earned run while striking out six in his six innings of work, and solo home runs by Alex McGowan and Mitchell Burton provided the necessary offense in a 2-1 victory. Dalton Wentz picked up his sixth save, pitching a perfect seventh inning.
McGowan then took the mound for the nightcap against the Shamrocks. First-inning home runs by Westfield’s Kevin Plawecki, Taylor Luna, and Brandon Thomas would be all Westfield would need, and senior Matt Hammel notched his second perfect game of the season as Westfield split the season series with Brownsburg with a 13-0 victory.
Brownsburg (13-2, 6-2) exited the loss tied with Westfield (9-2, 6-2) for the HCC lead.
May 4: 4A #3 Brownsburg 8, Avon 3
BROWNSBURG – The Bulldogs rebounded from the worst loss of their season with an 8-3 win over HCC and Hendricks County foe Avon. Senior Matt Duncan struck out 11 and went the distance for his third win of the season, the first complete game thrown by a Bulldog this season.
Duncan was supported offensively by Ben Blystone and Justin Hartnagel, who each contributed two hits and two RBIs as the Bulldogs pounded out 11 hits. The Bulldogs had defeated the Orioles earlier in the season in the semifinal of the Hendricks County Tournament, and the two teams will meet Tuesday afternoon at Avon for the third time this season.
Earlier in the day Monday, the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association released their latest poll with the Bulldogs retaining the third spot in Class 4A.
May 5: 4A #3 Brownsburg 14, Avon 4
AVON – Brownsburg sent 13 men to the plate in a nine-run second inning en route to a 14-4 win over Avon. Junior right-hander Dalton Wentz, who leads the team with six saves, drew the start for the Bulldogs and struck out 11 over five innings while allowing only two unearned runs to notch his team-leading fifth win of the season.
The Bulldogs took control of the game in the second frame as five hits and two Oriole errors fueled the rally. Wentz led off with a double, and Joel Stucker was hit with a Logan Sanburn pitch. Sanburn then fielded Mitchell Burton’s sacrifice bunt and threw wildly trying to force Wentz at third, allowing him to score the game’s first run. Sophomore Ted Kakowski followed with a run-scoring base hit to right to drive Stucker home. Stucker would also score the final run of the early-game onslaught.
Ultimately, every Brownsburg hitter registered at least one hit, and the 14 runs matched their second-highest offensive output of the season. For Brownsburg coach Pat O’Neil, it was his 300th career victory. The Bulldogs (15-2, 8-2) next square off against HCC rival Lafayette Jefferson May 8-9.
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