More JC news on our Knights!!!!

According to the JC & stats this could be an oh so close game!!! Both teams have brutal non-conference schedules with wins against bigger schools.

JCOnline:
A confident and focused Central Catholic team enters Victory Field for tonight's Class A state championship game.

Yet the Knights also described themselves with a different word leading up to the final: relaxed. Most players on Central Catholic's roster were in the Victory Field dugout for last year's state championship, and some were a part of another title as freshmen.

By contrast, opponent Tecumseh has no players with state championship experience.

"Coach was talking about that yesterday, too, how we've got to jump on them early, since none of their players have been to Victory Field," said CC senior shortstop Chas Bobillo, who started a third base in last year's title game.

"We went last year, so we're going to be a little more calm and we know what to expect. With eight seniors, with a veteran team, we'll be able to keep our team calm."

Both Central Catholic and Tecumseh dominated their class this season. The Knights went 14-0 and outscored Class A opponents 172-13. Tecumseh's 14-0 mark came while outscoring Class A teams 164-31.

However, both teams prepared for the tournament by playing a strong non-conference schedule in the regular season. Tecumseh has won 14 of its last 15, with four victories coming against Class 3A teams.

"We know they're going to be a tough foe for us," CC coach Tim Bordenet said. "It's not going to be like the last couple of times we've been down there."

Tecumseh averages just under 10 runs per game and has scored 10 or more on 17 occasions. (Central Catholic reached double digits 16 times.)

Braves coach Dave Duncan described his team as having "decent team speed and average power." Kolton Chapman (.500, 9 home runs) and Trevor Noffsinger (.426, 6 HR) are the biggest hitters on a team that likes to play aggressive offensively.

"We like to make a lot of stuff happen," Duncan said. "It's pretty exciting baseball, normally."

Tecumseh lost starting infielder Colton Jung just before the start of the state tournament. Duncan said Jung, who was batting .404 with 10 doubles, suffered a broken arm when struck by a teammate's bat during practice.

Central Catholic's players weren't making too much of avenging a pair of state semifinal losses to the Braves from 2002-03. Tecumseh also defeated the Knights boys basketball team in the 1999 Class A state championship.

The Knights seniors are more motivated by potentially becoming the second program to win three state titles in a four year span. Jasper won three straight and four in five years from 1996-2000.

"Every day you come here and you try to get your year up on the scoreboard," CC junior Brett Haan said of the team's list of state champions at Leming Field. "Going for back-to-back is something I don't think has ever happened at CC. This would be a great moment, just to see history."