Indy Star

 

By Nat Newell

The Southport High School baseball team won its first Marion County Tournament in 18 years last season, but something was missing -- Victory Field.

Rain forced the championship game from the home of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians and gave the Cardinals additional motivation this year in an event in which few programs have been able to sustain success. Southport will play Class 4A No. 8 Lawrence North at 6 p.m. Friday at Victory Field in an effort to be the event's first repeat winner since Perry Meridian in 1998 and '99.

"It will be neat to get (to Victory Field), finally," Southport coach Scott Whitlock said. "Lawrence North is one of the best programs in the state of Indiana. For our kids to have the opportunity to play at the nicest park against one of the best teams is a great opportunity."

It will be Lawrence North's third appearance at Victory Field, following the 1999 state championship and the 2002 County championship. The Wildcats are trying to be the eighth school to win the event in the past 10 seasons.

The City Tournament championship game between Scecina and Cathedral will follow. Cathedral has won the past five championships by a combined score of 47-8 and is making its 14th appearance at Victory Field. Scecina, which lost to Cathedral 10-0 earlier this season, is making its third appearance in the City title game in the past eight years.

"We're looking forward to this to measure how much progress we've made and to get the experience at Victory Field," Scecina coach Jason Kehrer said.