Baseball teams in Class 4A better brace themselves, because Carroll looks downright scary.
The Chargers' quest for a third consecutive IHSAA State Championship continued on Monday in the championship game of the DeKalb Sectional with a dominating 13-2 victory over Columbia City in five innings.
Coach Dave Ginder's team advances to the Lafayette Jefferson Regional on Saturday to play the winner of the Noblesville Sectional at 1 p.m.
The Chargers (23-7) scored four runs on five straight hits in the first inning and never looked back in Monday's rout.
“We came out and had a lineup full of great at-bats,” Ginder said. “Obviously, when you jump on a team like that, it is easier for (starting pitcher Blake Converset), but he has been strong for us all year.”
Converset went all five innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four.
Grant Wilson had two hits and scored three runs for Carroll, and the senior feels as if he and his teammates are ready for another deep run.
“What we learned so far in sectionals and what we know, it is looking really bright for us,” Wilson said. “With the energy we had (Monday), it will be tough for us to lose.”
The Chargers added two more runs in the second and another in the third before sophomore Drue Tranquill put the game away with a three-run double with two outs in the fourth.
“To jump out on top a little bit helped us settle in,” Ginder said. “Our goal is to win, whether that is by two runs, one run, 13 (runs), our goal is to advance. We came ready to play and swung the bat well.”
Ginder did not want to jump ahead when asked about a third straight state championship, but knows his team has the experience on what to expect the next few weeks.
“Obviously, (our players) have done it, they know how to go from week to week with that break in there (in the playoffs),” Ginder said. “That is a hard thing to do if you are not used to it, you cannot underplay that experience.”
If the Chargers continue to swing the bat like they did on Monday, they will be tough to beat.
“What the seniors have accomplished and what the younger guys will accomplish, it's just a great feeling,” Wilson said.
There may be greater feelings to come.
In the semifinal, Carroll easily took care of East Noble 9-1.
The Chargers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning and were never threatened.
Carroll connected for eight hits, including a pair of hits each from Tranquill, Wilson, and Matt Kent.
Peyton Lengacher earned the victory on the mound by throwing seven innings and allowing just four Knight hits, while striking out five batters.
