JASPER — There was no comeback this time.
Competing in its first semistate game since 1971, the Mt. Vernon baseball team built an initial 2-0 lead over host Jasper during the Class 4A sourthern semistate title game on Saturday afternoon, but the Marauders struggled to match the Wildcats afterwards.
The Marauders (26-7) were limited to six hits and one walk issued by Jasper right-handed ace Grant Stratton, who struck out three, stranded five and was aided by a pair of timely double plays from his defense.
Jasper (30-2) scored four runs in the bottom of the first and took the lead, 4-2, in front of a capacity crowd inside Alvin C. Ruxer Baseball Field.
The Wildcats later added 11 more runs in the bottom of the second en route to a five-inning 17-2 run-rule victory for their 21st consecutive win and a trip to the IHSAA state finals.
The Marauders captured their eighth sectional title this postseason and first since 2011 before ending a 50-year regional title drought last weekend to clinch the program’s first final four appearance in history.
This season, the Marauders had rallied back from 14 in-game deficits, including two come-from-behind victories at the Plainfield Regional 3 tournament to defeat Franklin Central, 6-2, and No. 7 Cathedral, 6-3, in the title game.
The Wildcats, however, used a 14-hit attack, four Marauders’ errors and eight walks to avoid a repeat feat.
The Marauders came out strong early as A.J. Swingle hit a one-out double in the top of the first, which Hunter Dobbins followed up with a sharp single. One of two Wildcats’ errors scored the Marauders’ first run before Eli Bridenthal drove in the second with a two-out single to provide Mt. Vernon with a 2-0 lead.
Mt. Vernon’s offense unfortunately fell silent the rest of the way.
The Marauders didn’t record their fourth hit until the top of the fourth and had two more in the fifth, leaving the bases loaded as Stratton induced a game-ending ground out.
Mt. Vernon entered the semistate on an 11-game winning streak while setting a new single-season record for wins at 26.
For more on Mt. Vernon’s semistate championship game appearance and 2021 season, read Tuesday’s edition of the Daily Reporter.
