Despite being under the weather the past few days, Dylan Sprong wasn’t about to give up the baseball.
One of six seniors to be honored before Wednesday’s game, Sprong surrendered six hits and struck out four in the Braves’ 12-2 win over Owen Valley.
The game was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
The victory improves first-year coach Steve Mirizzi’s squad to 16-3 entering Friday’s county semifinal contest at Center Grove. The Braves are 5-0 in the Western Indiana Conference with next Tuesday’s title game at home against Sullivan looming.
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Given every opportunity to overlook Owen Valley, the Braves didn’t.
“Anytime we step on the field, our goal is to win and play our best baseball. I thought we did that tonight,” Mirizzi said. “We knew our pitching was going to be good all year. We worked all offseason on our offense, and that that would be a key to having success this year.
“I thought (Sprong) did outstanding for us today. He did what we expected out of him. He came in, threw strikes, pounded the zone and made our defense make plays for him.”
Trailing 1-0 early, Indian Creek scored seven runs in the bottom of the second and four more in the third to put it away. The monster second frame was aided by four Patriot fielding errors and three hits for the Braves.
Center fielder Luke Bramlett led off with a walk, followed by a single to left by junior catcher Cody Grider. A throwing error brought Bramlett home to tie the score, 1-1.
The floodgates opened when Sprong reached on an error, bringing Grider home. Seniors Kyle Lime and Joey Willis walked to load the bases, with the next batter, junior shortstop Wyatt Phillips, depositing Trevor David’s first pitch over the left-field fence for a grand slam and a 6-1 advantage.
Indian Creek added another run when third baseman Dawson Read scored from second on a wild pitch. Leadoff hitter Jared DeHart’s single up the middle in the bottom of the third inning brought home Willis, who earlier roped a two-out triple.
Junior Dustin Sprong launched a two-run homer in the third to make it 11-1. Indian Creek scored its final run on a wild pitch by Owen Valley reliever Nathan Phelps.
Dylan Sprong, who said he suddenly felt healthy again the instant the first pitch left his right hand, said the confidence he and his teammates bring to the ballpark each game is what makes the club special.
“I think we’re much more confident this year. We’re confident in our coaching staff, our players and that everybody on the field is going to make the play behind us,” Dylan Sprong said. “We expect to beat (Center Grove) and move on to Franklin in the championship game. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t.”
Read produced a double and single for Indian Creek, while DeHart finished with two singles.
