INDIANAPOLIS ― The IHSAA Class 3A baseball state championship game lived up to the hype.
No. 1 Andrean scored two runs in the 6th inning and two more in the 7th ― then held off a late Jasper surge ― to win, 4-3, Friday, June 20, 2025, at Victory Field in Indianapolis. It’s the ninth state title in program history for the 59ers, three of which have come over Jasper (other wins came in 2010 and 2015).
Trailing 4-2 going into the bottom of the 7th, Jasper (28-7) scored a run off a throwing error by the Andrean second baseman, allowing Jett Springer to score. An intentional walk then loaded the bases, setting up a showdown between 59ers pitcher Mason Barth and Wildcats batter A.J. Huelsman.
After a first-pitch ball, Barth blew three fastballs for a strikeout, emptying the 59ers’ dugout in celebration. They finish with a 31-3 record.
Jasper took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second. After Kai Kunz reached on an error, Springer roped a triple to leftfield, allowing Kunz to score. Two batters later, Nate Lukemeyer’s sacrifice fly drove in Springer.
Jack Levin was in cruise control for most of the game for Jasper, working around a bases-loaded situation in the third to keep it a 2-0 game. Things changed in the 6th, however, when Andrean finally broke through. Steven Mack hit a sacrifice fly to Kaden Maxwell. Then, after Charles Sollars stole second, Luke Goben drove him in with an RBI single to rightfield.
After another Andrean runner reached, Jasper made a pitching change to Kunz. He recorded a groundout to end the threat.
Kunz’s control cost him in the 7th inning. After a leadoff single by the 59ers’ Chase Nelson, Kunz hit back-to-back hitters to load the bases with zero outs. After recording a strikeout of Maxwell, Kunz then plunked Sollars, bringing in the go-ahead run at the time. The subsequent winning run scored off a four-pitch walk drawn by Mack, plating Blake Kouder.
Jasper’s Braxton Brosmer was named the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner following the game.
See below for all the live updates from the IHSAA Class 3A state championship game.
10:53 p.m. ET: FINAL: Andrean 4, Jasper 3
Mason Barth strikes out A.J. Huelsman with the bases loaded to end the game.
10:48 p.m. ET: Chaos!
Brayden Giesler hits a grounder to second base, but a wild throw scores Jett Springer. Giesler advanced to second base and Jack Levin third as the ball went into the Andrean dugout.
B7: Andrean 4, Jasper 3. An intentional walk to Braxton Brosmer loads the bases, two outs. Mason Barth now pitching.
10:41 p.m. ET: Jasper with runners on 1st and 2nd, two outs, bottom 7, trailing 4-2
Brayden Giesler batting. Pitching change Andrean – Kaden Maxwell is in.
10:34 p.m. ET: Mid 7: Andrean 4, Jasper 2
See below how the 59ers took the lead.
10:26 p.m. ET: Bases loaded, nobody out for Andrean in a 2-2 game, top 7
First up: Kaden Maxwell. He strikes out, one out.
Next: Charles Sollars is hit by a pitch, the third of the inning. ANDREAN 3, JASPER 2, one out, top 7.
Next: Steven Mack draws a four-pitch walk. ANDREAN 4, JASPER 2, one out, top 7.
Final batter: Luke Goben is out via the infield fly rule. Jasper third baseman Jett Springer dropped the ball, which prompted Mason Barth to try and run for home plate. He was thrown out for a double play.
10:20 p.m. ET: End 6: Andrean 2, Jasper 2
Wildcats go down in order in the bottom of the 6th.
10:07 p.m. ET: Andrean ties the game
The 59ers finally broke through in the top of the 6th. Steven Mack’s sacrifice fly scored Kaden Maxwell. Then, after Charles Sollars stole second, Luke Goben drove him in with an RBI single to rightfield. Brand new ballgame.
After another Andrean runner reached, Jasper made a pitching change to Kai Kunz. He recorded a groundout to end the threat.
MID 6: Andrean 2, Jasper 2.
9:55 p.m. ET: End 5: Jasper 2, Andrean 0
More of the same between these two teams in the 5th.
9:37 p.m. ET: End 4: Jasper 2, Andrean 0
9:22 p.m. ET: End 3: Jasper 2, Andrean 0
9:13 p.m. ET: Pitching change for Andrean
59ers left-hander Braden Branigin recorded a groundout to start the bottom of the third before being relieved for senior righty Ivan Mastalski. Branigin’s final line: 2 1/3rd innings, 1 hit, 2 runs allowed (1 earned), 2 strikeouts, 63 pitches thrown.
9:08 p.m. ET: Andrean strands the bases loaded
The 59ers loaded the bases with two outs, but No. 3-hitter Kaden Maxwell grounded out back to Jasper pitcher Jack Levin on the first pitch to end the thread in the top of the third.
8:53 p.m. ET: End 2: Jasper 2, Andrean 0
After Kai Kunz reached via an error, Jett Springer roped a triple to leftfield, scoring Kunz to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead with one out in the bottom of the 2nd. Two batters later, Nate Lukemeyer’s sacrifice fly drove in Springer.
8:31 p.m. ET: End 1: Andrean 0, Jasper 0
Both teams get a runner on, but nobody scores.
8:15 p.m. ET: Flashy defensive play to start for Jasper
After allowing a one-out single, Jasper catcher Kaiden Schmidt threw out Andrean’s Mason Barth on a steal attempt at second base. Jack Levin then struck out the batter two pitches later to end the top half of the first.
7:55 p.m. ET: Lineups announced
GAME PARTICULARS
Game time: 8:13 p.m. ET
Location: Victory Field, Indianapolis
Game time temperature: 83 degrees (feels like 85)
How Andrean and Jasper reached the baseball state finals
Andrean: defeated River Forest, 22-1, and Hanover Central, 5-2, in sectional. Defeated Highland, 9-0, in regional. Defeated Delta, 4-2, and NorthWood, 4-0, in semi-state.
Jasper: defeated Vincennes Lincoln, 6-4, Princeton, 16-3, and Gibson Southern, 3-2, in sectional. Defeated Evansville Central, 6-0, in regional. Defeated Greensburg, 15-5, and Guerin Catholic, 5-0, in semi-state.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Andrean outlasts Jasper in IHSAA Class 3A baseball state championship thriller
Reporting by Austin Hough and Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
