Semi-state champs!

KOKOMO -- Making the trip to Victory Field never gets old for Central Catholic's baseball program.

"We've been working all year for this," senior outfielder Matt Combs said following Saturday's resounding 16-1, five-inning victory over Fort Wayne Canterbury to claim the Class A Kokomo Semistate.

The second-ranked Knights are making their fifth appearance at the state finals since 2002 and seek the program's third state championship. Central Catholic won state titles in 2004 and 2007.

"It's really special and I'm glad we get to go one more time," shortstop Dru Anthrop said.

Although the Cavaliers took a brief 1-0 lead on a solo home run from Cameron Squires, there was never any doubt the Knights would be making another journey to the state finals.

Cole Hruskovich's two-run single broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the second. Anthrop's towering two-run homer pushed the lead to 5-1 and chased starting pitcher Daniel McMahon from the game.

Anthrop's home run easily cleared the posted distance of 330 feet down the left field line.

"He was struggling with his control the whole time, and I was waiting for him to miss a spot and pitch one inside," Anthrop said.

CC, though, was just getting started.

Taking advantage of four errors, a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch in the fourth, the Knights sent 15 batters to the plate and scored 11 times on six hits. Catcher Tyler Child and designated hitter Austin Munn each produced two-run singles in the inning.

Overall, the Cavaliers (14-10) were charged with seven errors after committing none in winning the program's first sectional and regional titles.

"They took every error and they took it to us," Canterbury coach Pat McMahon said. "Momentum went in their dugout and never left. Hitting is contagious and so are errors."

The Knights, winners of nine straight and 19 of their last 20, capitalized on each mistake.

"When you give any team more than three outs in an inning, it's going to hurt," said Anthrop, who scored four times and drove in three runs. "They made a few errors and it really helped us get those big innings going. They helped us out a little bit, but we still had to go through and play."
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Eight of CC's starters had at least one hit and scored one run, including first baseman Jason Aldridge. The junior made his first start in the lineup after just eight official at-bats before Saturday.
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Coach Tim Bordenet inserted Aldridge into the lineup while cleanup batter and second baseman Reed Drysdale served a one-game suspension following last week's ejection at the regional.

Aldridge finished with two hits, including an RBI single in the fourth.

"I was nervous," Aldridge said. "(Coach) told me at the beginning of the week that I didn't have to replace Reed. Just go up there and get a few hits in the eight hole."

CC starter Taylor Glaze wasn't sharp, hitting the leadoff batter on the first pitch of the game. He allowed the home run to Squires, but settled down and scattered four hits and didn't issue a walk.

"I couldn't be any happier for the seniors, who have been great from the first day of practice," Bordenet said. "They've shown great leadership and more importantly, they've been unselfish and put the team ahead of themselves. That's a big reason why we're playing for a state championship."