The Cowan Blackhawks took home the trophy on Wednesday as Delaware County Champions, the school’s first county title since 1979. They beat the Yorktown Tigers by a score of 4-3 in a very well pitched matchup. Tyler Henderson and the Campbell brothers, Cody and Kirby, highlighted the Blackhawk attack as the junior lefty, Henderson, pitched 5 innings giving up zero earned runs and only 3 hits while mixing pitches and speeds effectively against the Tiger hitters. Junior standout Cody Campbell swung the hot bat for Cowan, going 3-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI’s. Senior Ball State signee Kirby Campbell added 2 hits, including a double while Justin O’Conner and Jordan Sherfy added one RBI each in the victory. Yorktown senior and Ball State recruit Wes Winkle kept the Cowan offense at bay giving up seven hits and only 3 earned runs in 7 innings pitched, displaying a mid-to-upper 80s fastball with a very good changeup and slider throughout the game. Yorktown’s 3 hits came from TJ Gibson, an RBI double by Nolan Hiestand, and Spencer Matheny. After Henderson’s spectacular 5 innings and the Blackhawks taking a 4-3 lead in the top of the 6th, Cowan went to Justin O’Conner to finish the game, as he retired the side in order in the 6th and 7th, displaying his 90+ mph fastball and good command. This game was good for both of these programs. The beginning of the game lacked the flare of a Saturday night championship setting, under the lights at Tiger Field in Yorktown, but both teams, like all championship caliber clubs do, turned it up a notch when the heat was on. I believe both of these teams will make a run in the state tournament series. Both teams have a standout No. 1 pitcher in O’Conner and Winkle, a very quality No. 2 in Ring and Henderson, and both teams are battle tested because of previous runs in the state tourney and games like tonight. The Tigers play a very quality conference and regular season schedule and Cowan finishes the regular season in a very tough tournament at Jay County, (West Vigo, Jay County, Tippecanoe Valley, Cowan). I wish both Muncie area teams good luck in the state tournament and look forward to writing about some deep tournament runs, not only for these two teams, but hopefully several here in the area! Keep updated on the Muncie area by checking out my blog daily, as well as the daily recaps that are posted on the home page. I will try to do some sectional previews as time nears and maybe get the inside scoop for some readers out there, if area coaches give up the info. Got an idea for a story, a big game, or tournament coming up before the post season at your East Central Indiana school/team? Shoot me an email at keithnunley@live.com and I will see what I can do. |