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BOURBON -ÊFolks around Triton are getting used to successful athletic teams. After the volleyball team won the regional semifinal, the girls basketball team won the state tournament and the boys basketball team won the regional, the Trojan baseball team wants to continue the streak by winning the sectional.
But the Triton squad will not be satisfied to stop there. They want to win the whole doggone thing.
"I think we are the best Class A team in the state," said senior pitcher Branden Clauss. "We believe that, and coaches from other teams have told us that also."
Although the Trojans have received votes in the coaches' poll almost all season and have been ranked in the state several times this year, their record is not what they had expected.
"We all expected to do better," said Clauss.
"I think our record is a disappointment," senior left fielder Nate Setser added. "We should have had more than 20 wins. We should have won the (Northern State) conference."
"We just didn't play with our heads in the game all the time," said senior second baseman Steve Watkins.
"Going into the season we had very high expectations," said Triton head coach Jim Shively, "but we didn't win the conference. We didn't even come in second. But we beat the team that won conference twice."
The Trojans handed Jimtown, the Northern State Conference champion, its only two losses in conference play, but the Triton squad fell to other NSC opponents and placed third overall in the league.
"The way we beat Jimtown proves where we should have been in the conference," said Setser. "I think we play better against tough teams. Most of our bad games were against weaker teams."
Now that the regular season is finished, the Trojans are putting the past behind them and looking to postseason play.
"Now we are looking at the tournament," said Shively. "In fact we've been looking at the tournament for the past few years. We have eight seniors this season, and we have a good chance to do some damage."
"If we don't win state," said Setser. "it will be a huge disappointment."
But the road to state will not be an easy one. The Trojans must face a strong South Central team in the first game of the sectional June 10.
"In the sectional, we have to face a tough South Central team," said Shively. "But they graduated several players last year. Honestly, I think we have the most talent going in."
Talent may be the key for Triton to make a successful run in the tournament. Overall, the Trojans are batting .328 with a .472 slugging percentage. Nine Triton players (with a minimum of 45 at-bats) are batting at least .300.
Setser leads all Triton players with a .426 batting average and a whopping .750 slugging percentage. He has pounded out four home runs, six doubles, two triples and sent 25 runs across the plate in 68 at-bats. His 18 walks lead the team as well.
However, Setser is not the only Triton slugger to bat above .400. Landon Grubbs is 20 for 48 at the plate for a .417 average. He has driven in 17 runs and drilled six doubles.
"Everyone in the lineup hits," said Shively. "Our batting order is very strong. We have 11 to 12 guys who are good hitters.
"Another strength is our pitching. Branden Clauss and Tyler Hensley are two good starters, and Nate Setser comes in and does a very good job. He comes in and does a better job than most number one pitchers. I think we have one of the best pitching departments in Class A."
The Trojans seem to have everything going for them in the talent pool. They can hit. They can pitch. But the one chink in Triton's armor may be fielding errors.
"At times we could use some work mentally," said Shively, "but we are getting better. We have improved as the season has gone on. Defensively we are playing much better, but we still aren't perfect. At the beginning of the year we were making four or five errors a game, but now we have gotten that down to two or three.
"We're still learning, but if we have one bad inning at the wrong time, we'll be done for the season."
The Trojans have set their goals high for postseason play, and they hope to play well into the end of this month. But Shively has had one goal for his Trojans from the beginning of the season.
"Obviously I expect them to play hard every game," said Shively, "but I also expect them to play with class. Some teams get mouthy if things don't go their way, but I expect our guys to be classy. I am very proud of them."
BASEBALL SECTIONALS
(Records are listed for local teams)
ELKHART SECTIONAL
at Elkhart Memorial High School
Saturday, June 3
Elkhart Central vs. Warsaw (18-10), 10 a.m.
Goshen vs. East Noble, 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 8
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m.
Concord vs. Elkhart Memorial, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10
Championship game, 11 a.m.
PLYMOUTH SECTIONAL
at Bill Nixon Field in Plymouth
Monday, June 5
Plymouth vs. Rochester, 5:30 p.m.
T. Valley (9-14) vs. Whitko (8-12), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 8
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30 p.m.
Mishawaka Marian vs. CMA, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
ANGOLA SECTIONAL
in Angola
Tuesday, June 6
NorthWood (15-12) vs. Northridge, 5 p.m.
Wawasee (11-16) vs. Lakeland 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 11 a.m.
Angola vs. West Noble, 1:30 p.m.
Championship game, 7 p.m.
CASS SECTIONAL
in Walton
Monday, June 5
Lewis Cass vs. Manchester (15-10), 5 p.m.
Southwood vs. North Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 8
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5 p.m.
Wabash vs. Northfield, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
SOUTH CENTRAL SECTIONAL
in Union Mills
Monday, June 5
Oregon-Davis vs. South Central, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10
Triton (17-9) vs. Culver Community, 9:30 a.m.
LaCrosse vs. Winner game 1, Noon
Championship game, 4:30 p.m.
