CC determined to repeat

INDIANAPOLIS -- Minutes after winning their second state championship in three years, Central Catholic's senior leaders shared a unanimous vision for the program's future.
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"Nothing less," senior shortstop Dru Anthrop said. "If they have the will, they have the way. They can do it, and all they have to do is set their mind to it and they'll be fine."

The Knights must replace senior starters Anthrop, Tyler Child and Matt Combs and reserves Michael Lippai and Ben Wiley. But Central Catholic returns enough talent to make another run to Victory Field next season.

Every significant arm on the Knights pitching staff returns, as does the bulk of a lineup that scored 60 runs in six tournament games.

"Those guys are going to be tough to replace," CC coach Tim Bordenet said of his outgoing seniors. "At the same time, we do have a lot of guys back with experience, and this tournament run will definitely help them as well."

Junior pitcher Taylor Glaze finished off a 9-0 season with five one-hit innings in a 14-1 state championship victory over Vincennes Rivet. He compiled a 1.19 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings as the Knights' ace.

Central Catholic also returns juniors Brett Haan (6-1, 2.42 ERA) and Chas Bobillo (4-1, 2.74 ERA) and promising freshmen Austin Munn and Nick Stone. The top five pitchers return from a staff that finished with a 2.26 ERA.

"It's going to be great next year; I'm going to come and watch," said Child, a three-year starter at catcher. "I'd like to see another championship next year."

Cleanup hitter and second baseman Reed Drysdale (.439, 51 RBIs) will be a four-year starter next season. Junior center fielder Scott Windler (.454, 3 home runs, 50 runs) enjoyed a breakout season, and juniors Bobillo, Cole Hruskovich and Jason Aldridge took on bigger roles.

After losing six starters from the 2008 team to graduation, the Knights relied on the emergence of several first-time starters. As those players improved, Central Catholic won 15 of its last 16 regular season games.

"Every game, everyone got better, and it carried on into this game" Glaze said.

Strong freshman seasons from Munn and Stone set the foundation for the program's next three seasons.

Munn capped his rookie season with a 3-for-4 performance as the designated hitter in the title game. He also went 3-0 and struck out 28 batters in 21 innings.

Stone also went 3-0 while posting a 1.77 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings.

Expectations will be high again next season, but that's nothing new to the Knights.

"Same thing -- nothing less," Glaze said. "We can do this again, we really can. We've just got to work at it.

"I'm not saying we will, but we can. We definitely can."