INDIANAPOLIS — Lake Central’s Quinn O’Bryan heeded the words of his coaches.
The senior second baseman faced a 3-2 count with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning in the Class 4A state championship game late Saturday night.
“They do a great job of helping us with the mental side of the game,” O’Bryan said. “That’s a big part of it, just making sure you slow down your breathing and see good pitches.”
O’Bryan did just that. The Roosevelt recruit secured a walk-off walk to propel the Indians to a 2-1 win against Mooresville at Victory Field.
It was the longest game in the history of the state finals.
“It felt like forever,” Lake Central senior pitcher Blake Sivak said. “The game just dragged on.”
Sivak did his part to make sure the game continued, pitching 3 2/3 shutout innings with three strikeouts to pick up the win.
“I’m just happy I could do the best I could to get my team a win,” he said. “This team of all teams, everyone doubted us. We started 0-3, 3-5. But we came out and made our names known and let everyone know we’re not messing around. We’re Lake Central High School. I’m very proud of my guys.”
Indeed, the Indians (25-9), who won their first state title since 2012 and second overall, are perhaps an unlikely group given the players lost to graduation last year.
But star senior pitcher Griffin Tobias, an Indiana recruit, wasn’t hearing it.
“I’m super proud of my team,” he said. “It was an incredible run, especially to end out with a win with these seniors.
“I feel like I’m on cloud nine, I’m in outer space. I’m excited to see the celebrations with this team and spend some last moments with us before we go to college.”
Lake Central’s Mike Swartzentruber became the first coach to lead two programs to a state championship after taking North Posey to back-to-back Class 2A titles in 2005 and 2006.
“Winning never gets old,” Swartzentruber said. “I’m at a loss for words. It’s all about these guys. These guys believed and stepped to it. They’re the reason.
“I remember a lot of the losses more than the wins, but this is pretty special. After a long gap and Lake Central taking a chance on me eight years ago, we’ve knocked on the door and knocked on the door and knocked on the door. That’s our motto — knock the damn door down. And they sure did.”
Lake Central recorded just two hits against Mooresville (32-4) but manufactured enough runs to claim that elusive title.
Senior first baseman Brenden Smith, senior left fielder Michael Szatkowski and senior center fielder Nick Robinson all walked with two outs in the 12th inning to set the stage for O’Bryan.
Smith’s walk came against Hogan Denny, the Indiana Gatorade player of the year and also an Indiana recruit. Denny pitched 8 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one hit with 12 strikeouts and the one walk to Smith on a 3-2 pitch. Denny then exited with 127 pitches. Smith also made an outstanding catch into the stands in the eighth inning on Denny’s popup.
Szatkowski followed Smith and worked back from a 1-2 count to walk against Hudson DeVaughan, an Alabama commit. Szatkowski also made a spectacular diving catch to end the top of the 12th.
“All the adrenaline was rushing through my body after that catch,” Szatkowski said. “I didn’t know what was going to happen when that fly ball came. But I called off our center fielder Nick Robinson at the last second. He believed in me. I dove out and caught it.”
Tobias was sensational. He exited after 118 pitches, having allowed one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in 8 1/3 innings.
“I could’ve went for another hundred,” Tobias said with a grin. “I guess there’s rules out there. But it is what it is. Blake came in and did a great job. I’m super proud of him.”
Tobias also had a double in the third for Lake Central’s first hit. Junior third baseman Ryder Fernandez had the Indians’ only other hit, a leadoff single in the ninth.
Tobias praised Mooresville’s pitching staff.
“You have to grind, you have to claw,” he said.
Swartzentruber said Lake Central’s “22 parts” might not be the most talented, but the chemistry and cohesion have separated this group.
“We had our last practice (Friday), and I said, ‘This is it,’” he said. “I didn’t want to see it end, so that’s a testament to them. I’ve had some teams, I couldn’t wait to kick them out the door, not necessarily here. So that tells me they’re great kids.”
