Denny slams door on CG
‘When you hand him the ball, the game’s over’
BLOOMINGTON — Mooresville baseball coach Eric McGaha was unequivocal when describing just how important senior Hogan Denny is to the Pioneers program.
“He’s the best player to ever put on a Mooresville baseball uniform, period,” McGaha said. “His desire to win is greater than anybody else’s. He wants to win more than anyone . ... So, when you hand him the ball, the game’s over. It’s over.”
Denny, an IU commit, dominated every phase of the game during Monday’s two sectional contests. In two appearances, Denny struck out 12 over 61⁄3 innings allowing just one earned run and one hit. At the plate, the senior added four hits, including a home run and three runs scored. Fittingly, Denny closed the door on No. 1-ranked Center Grove, sealing an 11-6 win and clinching the Class 4A Sectional 13 title for the third-ranked Pioneers at Bloomington North.
Mooresville (28-3) advances to face Franklin (17-10) in Saturday’s regional championship.
When starter Hudson DeVaughan struggled with his command walking six in the sectional semifinal against Bloomington North, it was Denny who closed the game with four innings of one-run ball, helping the Pioneers earn a 3-2 win. After throwing 47 pitching against North, the Pioneers called on Denny again to stop the bleeding in the championship game.
The Trojans cut an 8-1 deficit to two, scoring five runs in the fifth inning. After walking Gannon Grant, Denny got Carson Bush to strikeout looking, ending the threat. Denny did not allow another hit over the final two innings.
“Just being confident in my skillset, relying on my teammates,” Denny said of his performance in the sectional round. “It’s always easy to rely on the guy next to me. We’ve got a lot of experience. Just coming out here, trusting one another and doing out thing.”
Mooresville’s experience was key throughout sectionals, as the Pioneers’11 seniors never pressed when facing adversity. Against Center Grove, the Pioneers were patient at the plate, rarely chasing out of the strike zone and drawing nine walks. In the second inning, Center Grove starter Kobe Cherry walked four straight batters. Brendan Ealy entered in relief and No. 9 hitter Kaleb Kestler greeted the reliever with a grand slam. Denny followed with a solo home run, putting Mooresville up 5-0.
Kestler has never hit a grand slam at any level. Getting that run production from the bottom of the lineup was a huge boost for the Pioneers.
“I was just looking to put the ball in play with power,” Kestler said. “I was looking to drive it in gaps, just get a couple runs, and it just happened to catch some air and go over (the fence).”
DeKlan Thompson added a two-RBI double in the fourth. The Pioneers scored one on a Center Grove error in the fifth. Thompson plated two more with a single in the fifth. Mooresville’s final run came on a Trojan error.
Errors and free passes doomed Center Grove. Between the walks, errors and hit batters, the Trojans allowed 16 free bases to the Pioneers.
“You’re not gonna win any games especially against a good program like that when you give them 16 free bases,” Center Grove coach Keith Hatfield said. “The pop two fly balls that made it out of here somehow, but give credit to them on the mound they did battle.
“Love our guys for not folding. We could have very easily got down when it was 5-0. We scratch one back then we’re down 8-1. We made them work a little bit, so I’m proud of our guys. I’m not proud of the 16 three bases, and that’s going to be the story of tonight, unfortunately.”