Owen Oakman was dominant on the hill, as the starting pitcher rang up 10 strikeouts in Southern Fulton Indians’s 14-3 victory over Eden Christian Acad on Thursday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park At Penn State University. The victory by the Indians sealed the first State Title by any sport/athlete in the history of the school.
The power righty, Oakman, surrendered 10 hits and three runs over five and two-thirds innings while walking one.
Southern Fulton got on the board in the first inning after Paul Hendershot laced a 2 out double down the left field line and Jett Burger promptly followed with a triple, scoring Hendershot to make it 1-0.
Eden Christian promptly answered in the bottom of the first when Noah Emswiler tripled, scoring two runs, and Josh Tilden singled, scoring one run. SF was able to minimize the damage though and go into the 2nd inning down 3-1.
Neither team could get anything going as each starting pitcher settled in and closed out the 2nd and 3rd innings cleanly. The Indians flipped the game on its head in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on three hits to take the lead, 6-3. The biggest blow in the inning was a bases loaded squeeze bunt by Joel Fitz. The bunt was fielded cleanly by the Warrior pitcher but he threw widely to first bas which allowed Fitz to scamper all the way to 3rd base and push three runs home, giving the Indians a 4-3 lead.
Southern Fulton continued to pressure ECA defense and scored seven runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning. Brooks Norris drew a walk, scoring one run, Colt Mann singled, scoring one run, Burger drew a walk, scoring one run, Mark Fitz drew a walk, scoring one run, Kaiden Schriever singled, scoring one run, and Norris singled, scoring one run.
Emswiler took the loss for Eden Christian Academy. The starting pitcher went three and one-third innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits, striking out six and walking five. Joel Fitz threw one and one-third innings of no-run ball for Southern Fulton in relief. The reliever allowed zero hits, striking out one and walking none.
Southern Fulton piled up 12 hits in the game. Norris, Burger, Austin Mann, and Mann each collected two hits for the Indians. Colt Mann led Southern Fulton Indians with three runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. Burger and Mann each stole multiple bases for Southern Fulton Indians. Southern Fulton stole five bases in the game.
The Indians defense was spotless as well as they didn’t commit a single error in the field.
The Indians conclude a stellar season at 25-1. They were crowned the ICC South Champions, ICC Conference Tournament Champions, PIAA District V Champions, and the PIAA 1A State Champions!