By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
LAFAYETTE — The first highly touted player to appear in this yearâ??s baseball state finals was North Posey junior pitcher Jared Baehl, who entered the Class 2A title game with a record of 9-1, an ERA of 1.47, and a whole lot of people interested in the future services of his right arm.
Northwestern, however, was not the least bit impressed â??? the Tigers scored in each of the first four innings against Baehl. During that time, Northwestern combined six hits and some shoddy North Posey defense to plate six runs. Unfortunately for Northwestern, Baehl brought along his teammates, and they were doing damage of their own.
The sixth-ranked Vikings scored one run in the first, two more in the third, and three in the fourth. The end result? At the end of four innings, the score was tied 6-6 and showing some resemblance to a beer league softball game.
That is when Baehl and the rest of North Poseyâ??s players did what superior teams are supposed to do: They buckled down and dominated the remainder of the game. Over the last three innings, Baehl allowed no runs, no hits, and just one baserunner. Meanwhile, the rest of the Vikings continued to reek havoc on Northwestern pitching, scoring twice in the sixth and capping off the day with three insurance runs in the seventh for an 11-6 victory.
The title is the first in any sport for North Posey.
North Poseyâ??s offensive barrage was constructed just as any coach would tell you it should be. The first two batters in the Viking order, center fielder Jake Voegel and second baseman Andrew Emge, went a combined 4 for 8 and were on base a total of seven times. Poseyâ??s clean-up hitter, shortstop Andy Spahn, had only one hit, but that and a sacrifice fly accounted for four runs.
In fact, the top six hitters in the Viking lineup were a combined 11 for 22 with 10 runs scored and 11 RBIs. That is classic offensive baseball.
The victory allowed the Vikings to finish their championship season with a 27-8 record. Northwestern, meanwhile, ended a spectacular tournament run with a season record of 19-13.
Northwesternâ??s Beachy wins L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award
Northwestern senior third baseman Brandon Beachy was selected as the Class 2A recipient of the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award. The son of Lester and Lori Beachy, Brandon is a four-year starter who helped Northwestern to its first state finals appearance this season, leading the Tigers in runs (30), RBI (31), doubles (10), and home runs (7).
The 2005 team captain set school career records for games (116) and starts (113), earning All Mid-Indiana Conference recognition twice and all-county honors once. Beachy, who graduated from an academic honors program after taking numerous higher-level courses, earned an academic and athletic full scholarship to Indiana Wesleyan University.
â??Brandonâ??s attitude has been an outstanding example for his teammates, his school community, and his five younger brothers and sisters,â? said Northwesternâ??s principal, Harold Seamon. â??His dedication, hard work, and attitude have been key factors in his development in baseball. It is gratifying for our school community to see a student athlete give back to the program, and Brandon has done that by working at youth baseball clinics and officiating in our youth program.â?
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