According to Tecumseh baseball coach Dave Duncan, the Braves will face Central Catholic in the Class A state championship game one year later than expected.
Tecumseh won its ninth sectional in 10 years last season and took a 22-6 record into the Loogootee Regional championship. But Vincennes Rivet stunned the Braves 4-2, then tripped up annual power Shakamak at the Avon Semistate before losing to Central Catholic at Victory Field.
"It was probably the most devastating loss of my life, and I've played ball my whole life," Duncan said. "It was the worst defeat of my career. I've never seen guys hurt as bad as they were."
Led by 10 seniors, the Braves recovered to win their eighth regional in 10 years. A 4-3 Southridge Semistate victory over North Central (Farmersburg) sent Tecumseh back to the state finals for the first time since they won their only title in 2003.
"We knew they were very athletic and had a good group coming back," CC coach Tim Bordenet said. "We knew all along they were probably the strongest team coming out of the south, and that kind of held true during the tournament."
Duncan, a Tecumseh graduate, took over as head coach in 2004. After graduating from the Lynnville high school, he pitched at Wabash Valley College and Union College and played independent minor league baseball in the Frontier League.
Three senior right-handed pitchers anchor the Braves. Duncan refers to Adam Westerman, Alex Oliver and Dalton Froman as his "three No. 1 pitchers."
Westerman started the semistate game, though Oliver earned the victory in relief.
"I probably won't make a decision until game time," Duncan said when asked who would start on Friday. "I like to keep all three of them on their toes."
Those pitchers have allowed eight runs in five tournament games. Tecumseh hitters have backed them with 11 or more runs in three games, and Duncan said the team batting average is around .350.
Kolton Chapman, the Braves' leadoff hitter and center fielder, will play at Hanover College.
Despite opening the season 0-5, Tecumseh has a chance to make last season's disappointment disappear.
"We never once talked about getting back until now, and now we can talk about it," Duncan said.
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