North claims share of conference title

Zach Wager

Columbus North put itself in a position where it had to win on Saturday to claim a share of the Conference Indiana baseball title after falling to Bloomington North on Thursday.

With Zach Wager on the mound, the Bull Dogs were a safe bet.

Wager threw a three-hitter and struck out 10 to lead Class 4A No. 10 North to a 3-0 victory against Terre Haute South. The Bull Dogs share the conference title with Bloomington South, who North beat 3-2 on Wednesday.

“It was good to come out and get a share of the conference title,” North coach Pat Antone said. “One of our goals this year was to win conference, and we’re able to check that off. We have two more to go to check off.”

The Bull Dogs (17-4-1, 4-1) did all of the scoring in the third inning off Braves starter Ty Stultz. Tyler Blythe led off with a single, stole second and scored on a one-out single by Wager. Wager stole second, went to third on a single by Will Baker and scored on a single by Dyllan Redmon. Redmon and Baker then pulled off a double steal, with Redmon stealing second and Baker coming home on the throw to second.

“That was big, because once we got those runs in, I could pitch with a lead and get more comfortable and then ultimately pitch better with a lead,” Wager said. “We got a couple runs there and kind of coasted. We need to learn how not to coast and just keep battling. We should have won that game by a lot more.”

Terre Haute South put the leadoff runners on base in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings, but each time, Wager pitched out of the jam.

“Wager did a great job on the mound today,” Antone said. “Anytime he’s starting, you feel really good.”

“Sometimes I got them with two strikes and then just didn’t finish the job, so I have to work on that,” Wager said. “I could have had a lot more Ks.”

Baker went 2 for 3 for the Bull Dogs, who managed six hits after collecting only one against Bloomington South on Wednesday and two in the final seven innings of the completion of a suspended game against Bloomington North on Thursday. Columbus North hosts 4A No. 5 Fishers on Monday in its final home game of the season.

“Today, our approaches at the plate were much better than they were on Thursday,” Antone said. “Guys were taking much more intentful, competitive swings. We were putting the ball in play. If we stay focused and locked in and compete one pitch at a time and don’t get complacent, we’re a very tough team to beat. We have guys that can play the game. We just have to stay locked in, focused and compete from the first pitch to the last. If we do that, I feel good against anybody.”