Western wins Class 3A state baseball title

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI) - Western scored four runs in the first inning and never trailed in defeating Indianapolis Brebeuf 8-1 in Friday night's Class 3A state championship baseball game at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

Evan Warden and Austin LaFollette drove in two runs each for the state champion Panthers. Starting pitcher Ronnie Smith allowed just one run  in five innings to earn the state-title-winning victory.

"I can't even explain the feeling," Warden said. "I'm just so happy."

Longtime Western Head Coach Ty Calloway, who was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame last winter, might have possibly won his biggest game in his final game as the Panthers head coach. Calloway is weighing retirement from his 30-plus year coaching career.

"It's been a long time," Calloway said. "We got a chance to get here and get it done."   

If it was the final game for Calloway, the Panther players are glad they sent him out a winner.

"Coach Calloway has been coaching here for 35 years," Smith said. "Let him know that we did it for him. It feels great, man."