Center Grove’s Drew Culbertson bats second, but is first on the team in a number of offensive categories.
Daily Journal file photo
Recent success can’t take credit for the chemistry that exists between the players making up more than half of Center Grove’s roster.
A closeness existed well before the 12 seniors helped fuel the Trojans into tonight’s Class 4A championship game.
“I can remember playing Little League ball with a lot of these guys since we were 6 or 7,” said pitcher Jacob Murphy, who spun a complete-game three-hitter in leading the team to its 6-0 semistate semifinal defeat of Brownsburg.
“Having that bond, knowing each other, I think it helps. Knowing your role plays a big part in winning games.”
And doing so unselfishly, at that.
Senior pitchers Murphy, Caden Cornett, Brady Walker, Christian Brown, Ben Murphy and Tyler House help make up a staff that takes a 1.52 earned-run average into the final against defending 4A champion Penn.
Classmate Grant Sawa is the starting catcher, while Bradley Gilliam, Garrison Barile and Evan Zapp roam left, center and right field, respectively. Another senior, outfielder Carson Vlcan, has taken part in 21 of the 32 games; shortstop Drew Culbertson, Center Grove’s leader in most categories offensively, including batting average (.438), is also part of the ground-breaking group.
These are players who weren’t born until almost a decade after the 1996 Trojans qualified for the single-class final four. They now have an opportunity to become the program’s measuring stick for future squads.
As freshmen, the current seniors weren’t able to compete after the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated all spring sports. In the three years since, Center Grove owns a record of 83-11-1, losing to Jasper in a regional final in 2021, and dropping a 3-0 home decision to Mooresville in a sectional semifinal last spring.
Past postseason disappointments have only added motivation.
“It’s great that we got here, but we need to finish it,” said Vlcan, who hits .295, has a pair of triples and has driven in 10 runs. “This is the year we need to do this, and we need to go in there calm and take care of business.
“Our chemistry is really good, and our confidence is top-tier. We have leaders on the team, and then our coaches fire us up. No one can beat us when our confidence is that high.”
Penn, a five-time state champion, finished this season sixth in the final Northern Indiana Conference standings, winning three of five games. However, since picking up the W in the second game of a doubleheader at Fort Wayne Snider on May 20, the Kingsmen have rattled off eight consecutive victories.
Five of the wins are shutouts, as Penn is led by 6-foot-4 senior pitcher Adam Lehmann, who is 10-2 with an ERA of 1.18.
“Obviously, it felt good getting over that hurdle on Saturday night, but it’s a whole new focus now,” Sawa said. “It’s the same game we’ve played the last three months, but with more at stake. It’s not something we take for granted because so much work has gone into it.
“If we play our best baseball, there’s no team better than us.”
The rangy Cornett, who is also Sawa’s future battery mate at Purdue Fort Wayne, perhaps best summed up Center Grove’s grasp of team after going the distance against Castle with a six-hitter of his own in the semistate title game.
“I’ve got all the faith in the world with Jacob Murphy starting this game for us,” said Cornett, who is 5-1 with a 2.13 ERA. “If he gets in any trouble, I’ve got his back.”
IF YOU GO
Class 4A state championship
Penn (26-8) vs. Center Grove (29-3)
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Victory Field, Indianapolis
Admission: $15 per person (children age 5 and under free); all ticket sales are digital
