Center Grove catcher Grant Sawa helped lead the Trojans to the Class 4A state championship game at Victory Field.
Grant Sawa has been part of doubleheaders before, but never like the one later this month.
On July 18, the former Center Grove baseball player will be at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati as one of the winners of the Johnny Bench Award, named for the legendary Cincinnati Reds catcher.
The honor is an annual recognition of the top high school baseball and softball catchers from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Also cited are the accomplishments of the premier baseball and softball backstops among NCAA Division I programs.
Recipients attend a banquet during the day.
In the evening, they’ll walk onto the field either prior to or during the Reds’ home game against the San Francisco Giants in order for those in attendance to recognize their accomplishments.
“When I found out, it felt pretty special,” said Sawa, who along with former teammate and CG pitcher Caden Cornett, will play baseball at Purdue University Fort Wayne. “Obviously, I would rather have team achievements, but it’s pretty cool to be recognized. All of my teammates have been supportive, so it’s been good.”
Sawa’s offensive numbers — including a .317 batting average, three doubles and three home runs — proved crucial elements in the Trojans (29-4) advancing to the Class 4A state championship game before losing to Penn, 2-0.
The same can be said for his leadership and dependability behind the plate.
“The state game burned there for a little bit. Still does,” said Sawa, a member of the Daily Journal’s all-county squad as a sophomore and senior. “But it was super fun to look back and see what we accomplished.
“I’m actually a Chicago Cubs fan, so this is kind of new to me. But I will be a Reds fan for that night.”
Among the previous Johnny Bench Award winners is 2018 Center Grove graduate Jordyn Rudd, the former catcher for the Northwestern University softball program who exhausted her fifth and final season of college eligibility this past season.
