Center Grove coach Keith Hatfield, one to appreciate a deep bullpen, appears to have achieved one of the sport’s invisible milestones.
In his 11th season, Hatfield’s program seems immune to rebuilds.
On Friday, the state’s top-ranked squad in Class 4A defeated visiting Whiteland, 5-1, to run its record this season to 18-1.
Heady stuff after graduating six starters, most of its pitching staff and a handful of quality backups from the team that came up short against Penn in the state championship game last June.
Players who were waiting their turn a year ago at this time are being rewarded for their patience and dedication.
“Tonight’s game, (Whiteland pitcher Kayden Wilson) did a really good job of mixing it up, and controlling the strike zone,” Hatfield said. “And that game right there is kind of how I thought our whole year would go. Scratching and clawing with some guys who just haven’t been at the varsity level before.
“At a place like here, we’re always going to have talent, and it’s about mindset and development. That’s really what we’ve focused on this year more than anything.”
Center Grove pitcher Kellen Thomson, who isn’t about wasting time when he gets possession of the baseball, went the distance to pick up the win. The sophomore allowed five hits, issued one walk and struck out five.
Like a lot of his teammates now carrying a heavier burden, Thomson probably would have started for any number of teams last season.
The wait, while not easy, was worth it.
“(Last year’s) seniors are a big part. They definitely left a legacy,” Thomson said. “They showed us how to work hard, and how to win. We work out in the fall, and it transfers to all winter. We don’t really take a break, so obviously it’s showing.
“Everyone here wants to win, and that’s a big part. The biggest part is just staying the course.”
Against the Warriors on Friday, Center Grove jumped to a 3-0 advantage in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Noah Coy was hit by a pitch on Wilson’s second offering of the game. The senior stole second base with one out, followed by Carson Bush’s single to center to put runners on the corners.
Cleanup hitter A.J. Beggs brought home the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly. Sophomore catcher Tristan Yerman doubled to make it a 2-0 score, followed by Easton Smith’s single to left that drove in a run.
Wilson’s RBI double in the top of the second inning got the Warriors on the board. Junior Blake Riddle had gotten things started with a one-out single and took second on a fielder’s choice.
The Trojans added a run in their half of the second. Freshman center fielder Drake McClurg got hit by a pitch and Coy walked. The two then attempted a double steal, forcing an errant throw that allowed McClurg to touch home plate.
Center Grove’s final run in the bottom half of the fourth began with McClurg’s one-out single. He stole second, moved to third base on Coy’s single and scored on a fielder’s choice.
“I just think that coming into it, we’re not scared of anybody,” said Yerman, who was a second baseman for the junior varsity squad last season. “We are a pretty young team. We have a lot of underclassmen in the field. A big factor is we’re here to win.”
Wilson also went the distance, yielding six hits, walking five and striking out five for Whiteland (10-6), which is at Decatur Central on Monday. The Trojans travel to Brownsburg on Monday and then play at Bloomington South on Tuesday.
More opportunities for Center Grove to continue to step out of the imposing shadow cast by last year’s team.
“There’s no question that Tristan could have played anywhere. Kellen would have started anywhere as a freshman,” Hatfield said. “(Juniors) Cayden Jones and Cal Schembra … Carson Bush didn’t start until this year, and he’s leading our team in hitting.
“That’s what we preach. Hey, it’s going to be your turn, and you have to be ready. The culture has been the older guys bringing the young guys up. Our older guys really pay attention to what the younger guys are doing, and I do think that’s a major reason for our success.”
