During his post-game comments, after watching his team come back from a seventh inning deficit to win the south Semi-state baseball championship game, Centerville Head Coach Tracey Crull covered his face and said, “We are going to Victory Field. I can’t believe it.”
Believe it Coach.
For the first time in history a Wayne County High School will play for a State Championship in baseball. It will also be the first time a Tri-Eastern Conference team has reached the title game in baseball.
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The Bulldogs will face Illiana Christian, members of the Greater Southshore Conference, for the state championship. The game will be played at Victory Field in Indianapolis, Friday, June 17, with the first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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Crull said that support for the Bulldogs has been overwhelming.
“Every Tri-Eastern Conference baseball coach either called or sent me texts of support this week. John Cate (retired Richmond High School coach) and Lloyd Michael (retired Hagerstown High School coach), both reached out to me. They are both Hall of Fame coaches with baseball fields named after them. It was beyond flattering that they reached out in support.”
Tri-Eastern coaches are not the only well-wishers the Bulldogs have picked up. Linton-Stockton Head Coach Jacob Harden had nothing but praise for Centerville after the game. Harden and his talented team were a class act Saturday and when the game was over, they were the first to line up to shake the Bulldogs hands.
“I felt like our game plan was the right game plan for us,” Harden said. “At the end of the game you must tip your cap to Centerville. They played a good game, and we played a good game. At the end of the day, they were a little better. This is the kind of game you expect to see at the Semi-state level. I compliment Centerville but I also compliment my kids. They did not give in. They did not give up and I am so proud of them. When the game was over, we wanted to shake their hand and extend our respect. I have no doubt that if we had won, they would have done the same for us. We teach our kids to be baseball players, but more importantly to be men.”