Union City’s Zach Bradbury
RICHMOND, Ind. – One of two Tri-Eastern Conference teams made to the finale of the Class 1A Seton Catholic Sectional at McBride Stadium on Friday night.
Union City was able to get past the host Cardinals 11-7, while Tri High fell 7-3 to Randolph Southern.
“This group has been a lot of fun,” Union City Head Coach Bill Bradbury said. “It’s been a blast and we don’t want it to end.”
Having won their first sectional title back in 2012, the Indians (13-7) face Randolph Southern (7-15) as they look for their second championship on Monday at 5 p.m.
“They are very well coached,” Bradbury said of the Rebels. “They play good defense and they are going to stay in the game.”
“If you’re not on, they are going to find a way to sneak a win from you,” Bradbury added.
The two teams have played twice this season with the Indians winning both times.
On May 2, Union City won 9-8 in Lynn. Three days later in the Randolph County Tourney, the Indians won 4-1 in the semifinals at Monroe Central on their way to that title.
On Friday, Seton grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before the Indians bounced back with three in the top of the third.
Zach Bradbury tied the contest with a two-run double before Trevor Spence put the Indians on top 3-2 with a double that scored Bradbury.
In the bottom of the frame, the Cardinals scored three times and added another run in the fourth to lead 6-3.
As they trailed for the second time in the game, the Indians had an answer.
“That’s what is great about this team,” Bill Bradbury said. “They don’t give up.”
“This team knows we’re going to put the bat on the ball,” he continued. “We’re going to make teams have to make good plays.”
Nic Wells had a RBI single. After Spence walked to load the bases, Jacob Fulk grounded into a fielder’s choice, which produced two runs thanks to an error as the Indians tied the game at 6-6.
Cameron Luster gave Union City the lead for good with a run-producing ground out and Gabe Loesch followed with a sacrifice fly.
The Indians added their final three runs in the sixth on a RBI single by Spence and a double by Fulk that scored a pair.
Spence pitched six innings to get the win. After Spence gave up a double to start the seventh, Loesch went to the mound and retired three straight hitters to send the Indians to the championship game.
Bradbury led the Indians with three hits, while Fulk drove in three runs. Spence and Jacob Curry both had two hits.
In the second game of the night, the Titans worked their way to an early advantage with Josiah Jackson holding the Rebels scoreless through three innings.
At the plate, Jackson knocked in the first run of the contest with a single in the second.
Tri High added a pair of runs in the third as Masen Phelps knocked in a run and Jarod Stevens had a RBI single.
The Rebels started the road back with a run in the fourth and then they tied it at 3-3 after scoring twice in the fifth.
After the Titans loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the sixth and couldn’t score, Randolph Southern converted on its opportunity in the bottom of the frame and scored four times to earn their ticket to the finale.
Mason Rottinghaus led the Titans with three hits, while Jarod Stevens added two hits.
Jackson, Phelps, Dillon Stevens and Kyle Falck all had hits as the Titans finished the season at 10-15.