Golden Bears clinch first conference championship since 2014

Reese Prickett had a few extra days to prepare to pitch in a conference championship game. And once the weather finally cooperated, the senior was stellar.

Shelbyville had already secured no worse than a share of the Hoosier Heritage Conference championship before the two-game series with Greenfield-Central started last week. But an opening game, 3-2 loss in 10 innings Thursday kept the Cougars in contention for the title.

The showdown came Monday afternoon on Senior Day for the Class 3A, No. 7 Golden Bears. Following the festivities that included the seniors’ fathers throwing out the ceremonial first pitches, Prickett went to work.

He did not allow a hit through five innings and limited his pitch count to 11 or fewer in four of the first five innings.

Meanwhile, Shelbyville took advantage of several Greenfield-Central miscues.

Austin Martzall reached on a third-inning single, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Aiden Smith quickly delivered him home with the game’s first run.

The first three Golden Bears reached base in the fourth inning off Greenfield-Central starter Parker Springman and two runners scored on a wild pitch and a throwing error.

Prickett singled to start the fifth and was lifted for a courtesy runner in Jackson Myers, who moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Luke Coomes single two batters later. Brayden Smith followed with a double and he scored on a throwing error to make it 5-0.

Gavin Reed walked in the sixth and eventually scored on another throwing error.

Prickett produced a pair of strikeouts in the Greenfield-Central fourth inning to strand a pair of runners that reached on walks.

In the sixth, three of the first four Cougars singled to spark a rally. Prickett induced a one-out infield grounder that pushed the first run across the plate but secured the second out of the inning. A second run crossed on a wild pitch.

He made quick work of the Cougars in the seventh to finish off the complete game, allowing four hits, four walks and notching four strikeouts.

“It was kind of stressful having to get delayed (by weather) all the time. I just kept a positive attitude,” said Prickett. “I know I can pitch well in conference games. I have all year. It all worked well.”

Shelbyville completes its commitment to the HHC with a baseball championship – its first since 2014. The program will join the Hoosier Legends Conference next season.

The Golden Bears improved to 17-4 this season and finished 11-3 in the conference standings – one game ahead of Greenfield-Central (16-10, 9-5).

With the postseason schedule set to begin Wednesday, a pair of losses to Greenfield-Central would have been a disappointing way to end the regular season.

“One hundred percent it would have been a setback,” said Prickett. “With all these delays and cancellations, it’s a quick turnaround with a game Wednesday. It will be a big momentum burst for Wednesday.”

The Golden Bears are scheduled to open the Roncalli Sectional Wednesday at 6 p.m. against future HLC foe Beech Grove (11-12-1). The winner returns Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. game against HHC rival New Palestine (15-8).

The bottom half of the bracket has Rushville (8-14) taking on Indian Creek (10-10) Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The other quarterfinal game pits Greenwood (11-14) battling the host Royals (18-5), ranked No. 6 in the state coaches poll.

The sectional championship game is scheduled for June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Roncalli.

Forced to play a conference championship game in sectional week is not ideal in terms of pitching matchups for the postseason but Prickett put the Golden Bears in good position.

Kentucky recruit Aiden Smith (6-0, 1.31 earned run average) is set to take the mound Wednesday against the Hornets and would be in position to start the championship game five days later. The only game Shelbyville has lost that Smith started was the extra-inning affair at Greenfield-Central last week.

Shelbyville head coach Jacob Shively, who collected career win No. 50 Monday with the Golden Bears, will have Prickett, senior Gavin Reed, junior Luke Coomes and sophomore Austin Martzall all available to pitch in the sectional semifinal game if his team advances Wednesday.

“Aiden can only throw six or seven games (with pitch count limitations) and then we have to come up with the other six or seven wins in conference to get us there,” said Shively. “I think it’s a very good 1-2 punch with Aiden getting through and Reece and his craftiness.

“We had Austin coming in against Greenfield. We had Luke Coomes come in a couple of times including Mt. Vernon, a big conference game. And Gavin as well. We had to assume a lot of good innings without Aiden on the mound. Aiden has been nothing short of impressive. I’m happy it’s a group of people in a team sport that can contribute to a winning team.”

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