PLYMOUTH — Rise and Roar.
That’s what was written underneath the bill of New Prairie baseball head coach Mark Schellinger’s navy-blue Cougars hat Monday, June 1, and it’s what his squad did as they won their fourth straight IHSAA Class 3A sectional championship by beating Culver Academies 12-2 in just five innings.
Schellinger said after an “emotional” 2-0 sectional semifinal win vs. South Bend Saint Joseph Saturday that he was slightly concerned New Prairie might start slowly against the Eagles with a championship on the line.
Once the Cougars put up three runs in the top of the first inning, he knew there was nothing to worry about.
Seniors Cameron Greene and Sullivan Kress both had at least two RBIs, while junior Jagger Daniels joined that club as well. Senior Ryley Conley and junior Giovanni Naccarato each had one, and it was the latter whose celebration encapsulated that of what the Cougars’ mentality has been throughout their accomplished four seasons.
Culver Academies had runners on first and third base with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and New Prairie senior Colton Griffiths was trying to close the frame without surrendering another run so his squad could bring home a trophy early due to the 10-run rule.
He had already given up an RBI single to junior Jack Kaplan and took a moment to regain his confidence during a mound visit. Griffiths, whose style is to pitch to contact, forced a ground ball to the Cougars’ senior second baseman Connor Tidwell, who flipped the ball to Naccarato at shortstop for the game-winning forceout.
After squeezing the ball into his glove and stepping on second before the Eagles’ runner could, Naccarato leapt into the arms of Tidwell and raised his fist into the air.
“My bond with that guy is just so special,” Tidwell said. “I love that guy so much. I had the thought that I was going to him for the final out if I got it the opportunity. I don’t know, we just had the plan to jump in each other’s arms after we won sectionals, and we did it.”
The first teammate to join them in celebration was Griffiths before New Prairie’s entire team spilled into shallow right center field, with players from the dugout splashing water into the air and onto their teammates. Griffiths, who struck out four batters and allowed just three walks, two hits and two runs in five innings of work, said he couldn’t ask for a better middle infield combination than the close-knit Naccarato and Tidwell.
The latter said their bond was formed two years ago when they ranged the 5-4 holes for New Prairie’s junior varsity team before being called up for the Cougars’ 2024 state championship run where each of them earned rings.
Even having been in this exact situation three times before, the significance of winning a sectional title is not lost on Tidwell.
“Between every inning I was just in the dugout, sitting on the bench and taking it all in,” he said. “I try not to take it for granted. In four years, that’s a lot of hard work put in. It’s been unreal. The culture is insane with this team. It’s just been really fun. It doesn’t feel like work.”
Nor is it lost on Schellinger or the Cougar fans. Throughout Monday’s game, players from the 10U Cougar Baseball Club team stood along the fence right behind New Prairie’s on-deck circle, often receiving fist bumps from the likes of Kress or senior Northern Illinois University commit Reed Robinson.
Little girls wore navy-blue New Prairie baseball gear with golden glitter on their faces and in their hair. Parents gave resounding applause after each out or anytime a Cougar reached base.
Schellinger said this support is essential to New Prairie’s success. It certainly will be when it faces defending state champion Andrean for a regional championship Saturday, June 6, at a site and time yet to be determined.
“This is what it’s about — looking around and seeing the guys smile, seeing the guys hugging, seeing the parents out here — that’s really what it’s about,” Schellinger said. “It’s enjoying those relationships and enjoying the moment … You look around here and you see the happiness of the families, parents and community. It’s been able to be sustained; it wasn’t just a one year, one group thing.”
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: New Prairie baseball’s culture strong after winning IHSAA sectional title
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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