(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY STEVE PAGE)
By Al Stilley
Editor
What’s the secret to Perry Meridian’s success that earned the Falcons their first Marion County baseball championship since 2001?
“We believe in us,” contended power-hitting third baseman Jacob Phillips, who had three doubles and drove in three runs as the Falcons edged Speedway, 5-4 in the title game May 9 at spacious Victory Field. “It was just another day in the (batter’s) box.”
The Falcons made their third trip to the championship game with coach Jake Banwart but this marked the first time they brought the championship home with him. PM’s last county title came 22 years ago.
They eked out a one-run triumph with 10 hits and an uncharacteristic pair of errors against the Sparkplugs.
Leading 5-3 after six innings, the ‘Plugs’ rally in the top of the seventh ended with runners on first and second. Speedway had closed it to one run on an RBI single to right field. The Falcons made a key defensive play when catcher Aiden Kerr threw to second and caught lead-off hitter Eli Owens stealing. Falcons’ relief pitcher Lane Allison closed his eighth save by striking out Carter Watson.
Then and only then could the Falcons’ celebration begin on the home field of the Indianapolis Indians.
“It (championship) is cool,” Phillips said. “We expected to be here and this is what we expected.”
Also leading the Falcons were outfielder Brock Allison with two hits and three runs scored, Carter with two hits, and Kolton Wright with two hits and two RBI.
The Falcons managed to overcome leaving the bases loaded in the first and fifth innings.
Coach Banwart said, “We hadn’t made more than one error in each of our last 10 games. We did a good job of refocusing after making a mistake. It seemed like we were always one hit away from breaking this one open, but credit to them (Speedway) for hanging in there.”
The Falcons raised their record to 15-7 with their ninth straight win. PM has been in 15 games decided by three runs or less.
Banwart and the Falcons have settled on Lane Allison as the team’s closer.
“Lane leads us in saves,” Banwart said. “We tried to find a closer earlier in the season, and he became the one that we trust. Today even in the seventh, we weren’t going to take the ball away from him (runners on first and second). He took a deep breath, refocused, and put the last batter out.”
The Falcons’ celebration was short-lived, losing to Whiteland, 6-1 Wednesday but recovering for a 3-2 win in eight innings Thursday against the Warriors.
Phillips leads the Falcons at the plate with a .432 batting average and 18 RBI and is 5-0 on the mound with a 2.97 ERA.