From the first season at Lutheran, one of my goals was that our teams would be able to compete with any high school in the state. I understood that that we would not have the depth of big schools but that on a given day when we could have our best pitcher available, we could compete and win. In the first couple of years, we came close but could not win a big game. That changed on May 22, 2008.
For the 2008 season, our team finished with a record of 18 wins and 9 losses. We had a solid team with several seniors. Our team leader was Jared Broughton and he was joined by fellow seniors Brad Naffziger, Jordan Jones, Michael Longworth, and Zach Beaton, Underclassmen with regular playing time included Junior Matrtic Ragan and sophomores Easton Kirstein, David Happersberger, Matt Ryan, Kyle Brockett and Caleb Hougesen.
At this time of the season we had defeated Trinity Lutheran, Southwestern, Cardinal Ritter, Broad Ripple, Morristown, Edinburgh, Tech, Lapel, Indy Kings, Beech Grove, Covenant Christian, University, Speedway, Scecina, and Guerin. Our losses had come to Brebeuf, Heritage Christian, Pike, Roncalli, Chatard,
Triton Central, West Lafayette (2) and we would lose to Bethesda Christian in the Sectional, the next game after the this game on May 22.
On this day we were playing Perry Meridian at Holder Field. It was Senior Night for the Falcons. I am guessing they thought they would be celebrating a win to top off the evening.
I made the decision to have Caleb Hougesen start on the mound for us. Caleb had shown great potential during the season as a pitcher, shortstop and hitter. Going into the game, Caleb had a pitching record of
9 wins and 2 losses. Four of his wins had come as a relief pitcher and he had only pitched more than 5 innings one time, a 7 inning performance versus Scecina. As a freshman, Caleb had not pitched at all, so for him to pitch this well was a surprise to me, maybe not Caleb. This game would go down as one of the best games pitched by a Lutheran pitcher given the opponent and the result. Congrats to Caleb!
I do not know what Perry Meridian's record was coming into the game, but I have to believe we were a decided underdog. Our line-up for the game was:
Caleb Hougesen P
Jordan Jones. 2B
Jared Broughton SS
Matt Ryan 1B
Michael Longworth. DH (David Happersberger 3B)
Brad Naffziger. LF
Zach Beaton. C
Kyle Brockett RF
Mattric Ragan. CF
Perry Meridian's starting pitcher was Austin Fox. The only other guys that I remember from the Falcon's were Kyle Rupe (SS) and Austin Conley (CF).
In the first three innings we did not get much done with the bats, only a single by Jared in the 1st inning. Caleb did a nice job of holding the Falcons down also. In the first inning he showed a little nervousness. We made an error with one out and then Caleb walked the #3 hitter, struck out the cleanup guy, but walked the fifth hitter to load the bases with two outs. To end the inning, Caleb got the next hitter to foul out to Zach Beaton. In the second and third innings, Caleb only had one base runner with a single in the second inning. After 3 innings, 0-0.
In the top of the 4th, Matt Ryan singled for our second base runner, but we could not get any other base runners. In their half of the 4th, Perry Meridian found some success. Their #5 hitter singled to lead off the inning. Caleb got the next two hitters out but the runner had stolen 2nd base. The #8 hitter then singled to left centerfield to drive in the game's first run. We also made an error on the play so the batter reached 2B with two outs. Perhaps unsettled a bit, Caleb hit the #9 batter to put runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs. Their lead-off hitter, Austin Fox, then singled to drive in their second run. Caleb then got Rupe to ground out to Jordan Jones for the third out. The Falcons led 2-0 after 4 innings.
In the top of the 5th, Brad Naffziger got a lead-off walk but we went down in order afterward. Caleb gave up a one out single to Austin Conley in their half of the 5th, but no other damage.
In the top of the 6th, PM had a new pitcher, Nate Cast. He had a scoreless 5th inning. To lead off the 6th, Caleb singled and stole 2B.
Jordan made the first out but Jared drove a pitch to the outfield for his second single to drive in Caleb with our first run of the game.
Matt Ryan then grounded out to shortstop but Jared was able to reach 2B safely. With two outs Michael Longworth then singled to drive in Jared to tie the score at 2-2.
Brad Naffziger then singled but Michael was thrown out at third base to end our half of the inning.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Caleb was very sharp. He retired the Falcons in order extending his streak to five consecutive batters. After 6 innings, the score was 2-2.
In the top of the 7th with one out, Kyle Brockett singled. Perry Meridian was now using their third pitcher, Jeff Woodall. Easton Kirstein pinch hit for Mattric and worked his way on with a base on balls. Caleb then flew out to left field for the second out. So with runners on 1st and 2nd, Jordan Jones was clutch with a base hit driving in Kyle with the go ahead run. On the play, Easton was out going into 3rd base from a throw by the catcher on the relay to end the half inning, but we were ahead 3-2.
It seemed as the game went along that Caleb got more comfortable and stronger on the mound.
Going to the bottom half of the 7th with a 3-2 lead, Caleb got Fox to fly out to Mattric in centerfield for out #1. Caleb then struck out Rupe for the second out. Their 3-hole hitter was up and Caleb ended up striking him out on a full-count to end the game and clinch the victory for the Saints.
Caleb had retired his last 8 hitters to finish his complete game win. For the game, Caleb had the following stats:
7.0 Innings Pitched 7 K's 2 BB 5 Hits Allowed 2 Earned Runs 1 HBP
This game was also Caleb's 10th pitching victory of the season which I believe would be the Lutheran record for Wins in a Season. It also improved our season record to 18-8.
This game was a highlight as it was one of our best pitched games. Considering our opponent, the situation of Senior Night on our opponent's diamond, and that the opponent was a 4A school, this was a win for our school to celebrate. Certainly it was an example of what to expect in Caleb's junior and senior seasons. That we had so many players contribute to the win was also a great demonstration of how we wanted to play.
Our first win over a 4A school was a memorable one and one of the best pitched games by a Lutheran pitcher, in this case Caleb Hougesen!
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