CULVER – Both the Triton Trojans and the skies over Culver Community High School appeared threatening Tuesday evening. Neither, however, did any damage, as the host Culver Cavaliers weathered both storms and claimed a 2-0 victory in the championship game of Class 1A Sectional 51. “What can you say about these kids, we started the season 1-12, but we turned it around,” said Culver coach Mike Elliott, moments after his players gave him the traditonal water cooler bath. “We persevered and made plays when we had to. That’s the name of the game.” It was Culver’s second sectional title in the past three years. On a heavily overcast evening that didn’t produce any rain until the contest was over, arguably the biggest play of the game was made by Culver senior pitcher Collin Stevens. With the bases loaded in the sixth inning and the Cavaliers already leading 2-0, Stevens snagged a hard-hit line drive off the bat of Triton sophomore Landon Kaufman for the third out. Stevens showed some emotion after the highlight-reel play, and an inning later the Cavaliers and their fans displayed even more emotion. “It was more of a reflex than anything,” Stevens said of the play. “Luckily, I put my mitt in the right place.” The Trojans, who beat Culver twice during the regular season, left six runners stranded on base in the final three innings. Triton was playing in the sectional final for the third-straight year. Instead of converting their opportunities, though, the Trojans came up short again and finished the season with a 13-15 record while Culver (10-16) advanced to Saturday’s Caston Regional. “This is our third year in the championship game,” said Triton coach Rodney Younis. “We talked about that this week. The kids were hungry, they wanted it. Culver just made more plays.” The Cavaliers, the visiting team on the scoreboard despite hosting the sectional, took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when junior Shawn Russell’s RBI-single plated classmate Nick Pritz, who doubled two batters earlier. Pritz accounted for Culver’s other run as well, smashing a two-out solo home run in the sixth inning. “Nick has been hitting the ball hard all year,” said Elliott. “He came in hitting .406 with 33 RBIs. That was his fifth home run of the year, and he’s got nine or 10 doubles. He hits the ball hard.” Stevens also hit a double for the Cavaliers, who won the program’s eighth sectional championship, but just second since 1985. Culver will play North White Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the second semifinal game at Caston High School. Elkhart Christian and Morgan Township are scheduled to play at 11 a.m. The winners will meet for the championship at 8 p.m. Stevens picked up the complete-game win for Culver, giving up six hits, striking out three and walking one. Senior Peter Kauffman was charged with the loss after giving up five hits and two runs in six innings of work. He struck out two and didn’t issue any walks. Junior Benjamin Perkins pitched the seventh inning for Triton, retiring the side in order. While the majority of Triton’s lineup returns, Younis must say goodbye to three seniors – Bryson Mosier, Seth Glingle and Kauffman. “Our seniors have been great leaders,” said Younis. “There’s just three of them, but they’re quality players and they meant a lot to this team.”
