The Shakamak Laker Boys Baseball team wins the Indiana IHSAA State Championship. The Lakers win by a score of 6-2 against Cowan after their fifth trip in seven seasons to Victory Field in Indianapolis. Some highlights of the game as reported by http://www.IHSAASports.org are as follows:

Top 7 - T.J. Hill strikes out 10 and leads his team to a 6-2 victory over the Cowan Blackhawks in 1A Baseball State Finals! The team celebrates on the field in a HUGE pile inside 3rd base. A great story for a town that has found itself struggling under the recent flooding and now finds itself on the top of the Boys Baseball State Finals. Congratualtions to the Lakers of Shakamak High School!

Bottom 6 - Cowan pitcher Justin O'Connor pitches his way out of a couple of early walks to keep the Shakamak lead at 6-2. O'Connor was nearly pulled early in the inning, but pushed his way through with a strike out and a clipped ball back to the mound. Cowan now 2-5-1, Shakamak 6-3-1. The 1 for Cowan an BIG 1, that kept the 5th going for Shakamak.

Top 6 - Cowan gets two on in an attempt to answer the six put up by Shakamak in the 5th, but a man caught stealing at 2nd and a dribbler in front of the plate end the inning. 6-2 Shakamak through 5 and 1/2.

Bottom 5 - Justin O'Connor walks 3 and fills the bases with 2 out (Toomey for Cowan warming up in the bull pen). Pop fly dropped in short center field by the SS, 2 runs score on the error and we are again tied. The contingent from Shakamak all standing as their team makes a big move without any hits. O'Connor struggling on the mound (bull pen now empty), another walk loads the bases. A hit batsman bring Billy Newton home from 3rd, and Shakamak takes their first lead. A big hit to right scores three more for Shakamak, they now lead 6-2, still two outs but that is the first hit of the inning. O'Connor able to close the inning with a pitcher to pitcher duel and a strikeout. One hit and Shakamak scores six runs to break this game open. The lines now, Cowan 2-3-1, Shakamak 6-3-1.

Top 5 - The scoring begins in the 5th with big moves by the gentlemen from Cowan. Jacob O'Connor got to third on a outfielding error. Skyler Toomey scored from to get the first run. From there, O'Connor stole home for the second run. Big coaching move puts the Blackhawks 2-0. Lines through 4 aand 1/2, Cowan 2-3-0, Shakamak 0-2-1.

Bottom 4 (11:00am) - Justin O'Connor escapes the inning with a nice curve ball. A walk put a runner on base, but he didn't get too far on the base paths. Through 4, Cowan 0-3-0, Shakamak 0-2-0.

Top 4 - Half way through, Cowan gets another hit, but strands the runner on 1st. The Blackhawks return to the infield with a rather spotless record to this point. No scoring yet, but both pitchers making it hard to get much done at the plate.

Bottom 3 - The pitching duel continues as O'Connor finds his way quickly out of the 3rd. Still 0-2-0 each team. Just 50 minutes into the morning, 75 degrees in Indianapolis.

Top 3 - T.J. Hill pitches his was out of a quick inning for Shakamak. Still 0-0, each team with 2 hits.

Bottom 2 - Shakamak gets two on with two out, a bouncing strike picked up by the catcher and the Cowan Blackhawks catch Justin Cox between 1st and 2nd and escape without anything getting on the scoreboard. Still 0-0, we go to the 3rd. Both teams with the same line 0-2-0.

Top 2 - Cowan gets two on, but cant complete much on the base patths and we got to the bottom of the 2nd still 0-0.

Bottom 1 - Strong pitching from Justin O'Conner gets he and his team through 1 with a strikeout and two infield outs. 0-0 after the 1st.

Top 1 - TJ Hill strikes out the first two batters he sees, then forces Kirby Campbell to fly out to left. 0-0 after the 1st.

10:00am - Cowan's road to the State Championship game:
W - Southern Wells 18-5 (5)
W - Lakeview Christian 17-0 (5)
W - Daleville 7-3
W - Monroe Central 13-1 (5)
W - Rockville 12-4
W - Whiting 11-1

Shakamak arrives as the only returning team from 2007:
W - White River Valley 7-0
W - Clay City 2-1
W - North Central (Farmersburg) 4-3
W - Vincennes Rivet 2-1
W - Bethesda Christian 6-1
W - Jac-Cen-Del 12-2 (5)