Rebels Yell

South Spencer (27-6) cranked out 16 hits in a 13-0 victory over Heritage (20-11) in the Class 2A state finals at Victory Field. South Spencer senior hurler Blake Monar shut down the Patriots offense by tossing a seven-hit shutout. The championship is the first ever title for South Spencer in any sport. South Spencer scored in five of the seven innings—its biggest scoring output came in the second when the Rebels scored five runs led by senior third-baseman Todd Martin’s three-run homer to left. It was Martin’s eighth homer this season. Martin finished the game 2-3 from the plate with a pair of run-scoring sacrifice flies and five RBI’s. South Spencer also tallied four runs in the sixth inning highlighted by Rebel pitcher Blake Monar’s triple down the right field line. South Spencer is coached by 11th year head coach Brian Kuester. The Rebels last made the state finals in baseball in 1969. Heritage is making their first appearance in the state finals. Led by 30th year head coach Dean Lehrman, Heritage had won its previous 11 games but couldn’t get the bats rolling against Monar. Monar concluded the season with a perfect 9-0 record, allowing no runs on seven hits while fanning nine batters in a complete game for the Rebels. Heritage’s best scoring opportunity came in the fourth inning when the Patriots loaded the bases with two outs behind a single to right field, a walk, and a hit by pitch. However, the threat was quickly extinguished when the Rebel’s third-baseman Martin made a nice play to his left on a hard hit ball in the hole and threw to first to end the inning. South Spencer broke a Class 2A record for most hits and runs in the state championship game. The Rebels’ 13 runs breaks the previous mark of 12 by Taylor in 2000 and their 16 hit performance breaks the mark set by North Posey (15) two tears ago. South Spencer also tied a Class 2A record for runs in an inning (five in the second inning) and RBI’s in a game (12 runs). They also set the record for most at bats in a game with 38. Martin tied the Class 2A record with five RBI’s. The two teams tied for most combined doubles (South Spencer had three and Heritage one). The two combined for most let on base in a state final (South Spencer left 12 and Heritage nine) and South Spencer’s total was the most for a single team. Courtesy: IHSAA