HIGHLAND — Class 3A No. 1-ranked Andrean took advantage of free bases and clinched a Northwest Crossroads Conference high school baseball title Tuesday, May 7 at Highland.

The 59ers (19-1, 9-0) drew 10 walks and were hit by two pitches in besting the Trojans 13-3 in five innings. The previous day, Andrean edged Highland 7-6 after falling behind 5-1.

“We thought the team who win the freebie game — didn’t walk as many didn’t make as many errors — would probably win this game,” said 59ers coach Dave Pishkur. “I never though it would be a 13-3 game. With the weather the way it is (cold and windy), maybe 2-1 or 3-2.”

Three Andrean players — junior Mason Sannito and sophomores Mikey Jarek and Justin Schassburger — drove in two runs apiece. Jarek scored three runs while Sannito and Schassburger crossed the plate two times apiece.

“I was throwing my change-up and fastballs and my curve once every inning,” said right-hander Schaussburger, who went the distance as the starting pitcher, striking out one batter, walking three and giving up seven hits (four in the first inning).

“He kept on throwing strikes,” said Pishkur of Schaussburger. “He didn’t fool anybody. They hit a lot of balls hard. A lot of balls were hit at us.”

Highland used two pitchers — senior right-hander Dimitri Ivetic for the first 2 1/3 innings and senior right-hander Lee Smith for the last 2 2/3.

“You’ve got to play perfect baseball to beat (Andrean),” said Trojans coach John Bogner. “We’re not throwing strikes. If we don’t throw strikes, we’re giving too many freebies away.”

Highland put runners on base against in the fifth with a single to left by senior Jordan Siska, walk by senior Mark DeLeon and fielder’s choice by junior Anthony Villarreal but went scoreless against Schassburger.

The 59ers took a 13-3 lead with one run against Smith in the fifth.

Sophomore Brad White (infield single) scored on a single to left by sophomore Matthew Johnson.

The Trojans went scoreless in the fourth. Sophomore Camden Scheidt rapped a two-out single to right. Andrean right fielder Sannito slipped then made a leaping catch for the third out on a ball struck by senior Meet Patel.

The 59ers put up three runs against Smith in the fourth for a 12-3 lead.

Jarek (single to left) was driven in by a groundout by Galanos.

Senior pinch-hitter Rigo Martinez plated freshman Connor Misch (walk) and senior courtesy runner Matt Lelito (on base via Schassburger’s fielder’s choice) with a single to left.

Highland left two runners on in the third.

Andrean turned a double play for the first two outs — junior shortstop Tyler Nelson to sophomore second baseman Michael Galanos to first baseman Misch.

DeLeon (single to right) and Villarreal (walk) were stranded when Schassburger ended the frame by coercing a fly-out.

The 59ers produced four runs credited to Ivetic in the third for a 9-3 advantage.

Jarek (lead-off walk) scored on a bases-loaded walk to Galanos.

Misch (on base by fielding error) was forced home on a walk to junior Jake Mullen.

That’s when Smith relieved Ivetic on the mound for Highland with one out and the bases still full.

Schassburger (infield singled) scored the third run on Nelson’s single to right.

Galanos was driven in by senior Mike Doolin’s groundput.

Highland went down in order against Schassburger in the second with two groundouts and a line-out.

Andrean made it 5-3 with one run against Ivetic in the second.

Lead-off man Sannito was hit by a pitch and trotted home on Nelson’s triple to right. On the same play, Mullen (who singled to right) was thrown out at the plate.

Nelson was tagged out in a rundown between third base and the plate for the second out. Ivetic got a strikeout for the third out.

The Trojans tallied three runs in the bottom of the first and trailed 4-3.

Scheidt led off with a single and later scored on Siska’s one-out single to center.

Junior A.J. Reid reached base on a fielder’s choice and scored on DeLeon’s single to right.

Siska trotted home on a 59ers throwing error as Villarreal reached on a fielder’s choice.

Andrean sent nine batters to the plate and scored four two-run runs against Ivetic in the top of the first.

Sannito (walk) and Mullen (hit by pitch) reached base at the top of the lineup and senior courtesy runner Ben Warren scored on Jarek’s bases-loaded single to right.

Doolin (one-out walk) and Jarek crossed the plate on Schassburger’s single to center.

Hammond Morton visits Andrean and Highland goes to Munster, both Wednesday, May 8.

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