By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org
WEST LAFAYETTE – Class 1A or 2A, it doesn’t seem to matter for the Tecumseh Braves.
Coach Gordon Wood’s top-ranked squad claimed its second-straight and sixth state championship in program history with a 2-0 victory over No. 3 Andrean in the Class 2A title game at Bittinger Stadium.
Senior center fielder Katelyn Marx led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and eventually scored on a single by Melanie Pfeiffer to provide Tecumseh the only tally it would need. Marx doubled in the other Tecumseh run in the fourth inning.
Freshman pitcher Audrey Seiler made it all stand up as she tossed a one-hit shutout, walking one Andrean hitter and striking out 13. Only in the sixth inning – thanks to an error and a walk — did Andrean put more than one runner on base.
“We had a plan against (Seiler),” said Andrean assistant coach Jim Menke, who spoke for the team. “It was hard to recreate the spin (Seiler) can put on the ball.”
“That’s a good hitting team,” Wood said of Andrean, “but our pitching and our defense has kept us in games all year long. We’ve found ways to win, even when we struggle with our bats.”
In fact, Tecumseh has won a lot. The Braves finished off their state title with a 31-2 record with both losses to schools from Kentucky. The appearance in the state finals was the fourth straight for the Braves, with this being the first of those four in Class 2A. The school finished as 2A runner-up in 2019 with its previous five championships all coming in 1A.
“I knew we could compete in 2A because we don’t play many 1A schools,” Wood said. “In fact, Andrean plays the best schedule in the state for a 1A or 2A school and we play the second best. That’s why I was worried about this team.”
Wood didn’t really need to worry thanks to Seiler, who finished the season facing 278 batters and striking out 240 along with an amazing 0.76 ERA.
Wood also didn’t need to worry after the Braves added an insurance run in the fourth inning. Seiler led off with an infield single and was replaced with courtesy runner Roxy Heichelbech, who eventually scored on a double by Marx.
“We just felt all we needed was a couple of runs and this team had everyone’s back,” Marx said. “(Seiler’s pitching) gives this team all the confidence in the world.”
After six state titles (which ties Wood with New Palestine’s Ed Marcum for most in state history), it can be hard to rate any above the other.
“I can’t say this is the best team we’ve had,” Wood said, “but they are definitely the toughest and grittiest team. It all starts with three seniors (Marx, second baseman Kenzy Johnson and first baseman Shae Bailey) who started all four years and a freshman pitcher who makes an old coach look really good.”
Sophomore Jayci Alba had the only hit for the 59ers, who finished 23-8.
Tecumseh’s Katelyn Marx earns Mental Attitude Award
At the conclusion of the game, Katelyn Marx of Tecumseh High School was announced as the recipient of the Mental Attitude Award for Class 2A Softball.
The award is annually presented to a senior participant in the state finals who best demonstrates mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability and is nominated by her principal and coach.
Katelyn was a highly engaging member of the National Honor Society, actively participated in Student Council, contributed to TRIBE (a positive student body organization), and served as the Reporter for her senior class.
Athletically, she has won three state championships (softball and basketball) and three state runner-up finishes (volleyball and softball). She holds the state record for career hits (232), tied the state record in career runs scored, and is sixth all-time in the state with 121 stolen bases. Katelyn was All-State and All-Conference all four years of her softball career.
Katelyn is the daughter of Stephen and Mandy Marx of Elberfeld, IN and will attend the University of Southern Indiana to play softball. She is the sixth Tecumseh softball player to earn the mental attitude award including former teammate Jenna Donohoo, last year’s 1A recipient.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance presented a $1,000 scholarship to Tecumseh High School in the name of Katelyn Marx.