by the Associated Press
6/14/2008
Fort Wayne Luers gained a place in IHSAA history with its 14-8 victory over Elwood in the class 2A baseball championship Saturday.
Luers became the first boys athletic program to win football, basketball and baseball state titles in the same school year. It was the baseball team's first championship.
"There was a lot of pressure on us after the basketball team won," said baseball coach Gary Rogers. "I guess we backed it up."
None of Luers' baseball players were part of all three title teams, but 11 of them played on the football team, including Tyquan Hammock, who had two hits and two RBI in Saturday's game
"I'm just trying to take it all in," said Hammock, a linebacker on the football team. "History is being made right now."
Luers athletic director and football coach Matt Lindsay said it has been a special year for all three teams.
"It's a great feeling for the kids and coaches involved," he said.
The Luers football team beat Heritage Christian 21-6 for its championship in November and the basketball team defeated Winchester 69-67 for its title in March.
On Saturday, the Knights (30-3) were forced to rely on their offense to pull out the win. Luers had 15 hits and capitalized on five Elwood errors.
The Knights, who opened a 4-3 lead, exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to take a commanding 10-3 advantage. Chuck Andrews had a two-run single and Hammock added a two-run triple to spark the rally.
Daniel Peppler had four hits and three RBI for Luers, with Tyler Bunn adding four hits and two RBI. Pitcher Kevin Kiermaier picked up the victory, allowing six earned runs and striking out six in five innings.
Elwood's Nate Wills had three hits and three RBI, and Troy Worsley added three hits and two RBI for the Panthers (27-5), who were making their first state finals appearance.
The combined run total of 22 set a new 2A championship game record, breaking the previous mark of 17 set twice.
Wills won the L.V. Phillips Mental Attitude Award for 2A baseball.
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