Class 2A State Championship Game
Centerville Vs Van Meter
Van Meter 10
Centerville 2
It took a while but Van Meter eventually wore down Centerville on their way to claiming their 3rd straight State Championship. The Bulldogs trailed 2-1 entering the bottom 4th, Ike Speltz tied the game with a shot over the left field fence and that ignited the Bulldogs. They scored two more runs in the 4th, then blew the game open with a 6-run 6th inning. Jack Pettitt was the Bulldogs MVP, pitching a complete game and going 4-4 at the plate with a triple and 4 RBI. Van Meter out hit the Big Reds 14-4 and won the defensive battle with only 1 error to 2 for the Big Reds.
It took a few hitters for Pettitt to settle in, as he walked a pair of guys early, setting up a 2 RBI single for Brody Tuttle as Centerville jumped ahead 2-0 in the top 1st inning. That would be the only runs Pettitt would give up. He finished the game giving up 4 hits and 2 runs. Pettitt helped himself in the bottom 1st, leading off with a base hit and scoring on single by Ganon Archer. The game stayed 2-1 Centerville until the bottom 4th. Ike Speltz hit a one out shot, over the left field fence tying the game at 2. Alex Jones singled, Austin Baumhover followed that with a single, setting up Pettitt, who tripled, putting the Bulldogs up 4-2.
The Big Reds offense went stale after the 1st inning. Merrick Mathews kept them in the game on the mound. He walked in the 3rd, but they couldn’t get the hit to score him. Miles Clawson singled in the 4th, but was part of an L-5-3 double play. Kade Mosley singled in the 5th and was part of a 1-6-5 double play. Korey Shondel singled in the 6th, but Van Meter held firm again.
The Bulldogs put the game away in the bottom 6th, Jack Pettitt capped his 4 for 4 day at the plate with a 2 RBI single, before Jacob Blomgren singled, scoring 3. Van Meter scored 6 times to lead 10-2 heading into the 7th. Pettitt sat the Big Red down in order and Van Meter began to celebrate.
The win for Van Meter clinched their 3rd straight Class 2A Championship and was win number 31 on the season as they finish 31-7. Centerville entered the tournament as the 2 seed and finished 2nd place at 21-15.
Van Meter Stats
Jack Pettitt 4-4, 3B, 4 RBI- Pitching WP, 7 IP, 4 Hits, 2 RA, 2 ER, 2 K’s, 3 BB
Luke Wilcox 1 RS
Dalten Van Pelt 1 RS, SB
Carter Durflinger 2-4, 2B, RS
Zach Pleggenkuhle 1-3, RS, HBP
Jacob Blomgren 1-4, 3 RBI, RS
Gannon Archer 2-4, 2B, RBI
Ike Speltz 1-3, HR, RBI, 2 RS
Alex Jones 1-2
Austin Baumhover 2-3, RS
Chris Schreck 2 RS
Centerville Stats
Brady Kauzlarich 1 RS, BB
Otis Williams 1 RS, BB
Korey Shondel 1-3
Brody Tuttle 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI- Pitching 1/3 IP, 2 Hits, 1 RA, 0 ER
Kade Mosley 1-3
Merrick Mathews 1 BB- Pitching LP, 5 2/3 IP, 12 Hits, 9 RA, 5 ER, 3 K’s, BB, HBP
Box Score
Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
Centerville 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Van Meter 1 0 0 3 0 6 x 10
