Indianapolis, IN---The Roncalli Rebels are heading to Regionals next Saturday where they will face Northview at 10 am at Avon HS.  The Rebels earned their ticket to the IHSAA Baseball Tournament’s second round by defeating a feisty Warren Central squad 7-6 in the sectional 10 championship game.

Unsigned senior Chase Steinburnner got the start for the Rebels while Josh Piercey took the mound for Warren Central.  Both starters got off to a quick start in the first inning, Piercey struck out the first to Roncalli hitters and then got a fly ball out to shut down the Rebels 1-2-3.  Steinbrunner then shut down the Warriors getting two fly ball outs and a ground out, keeping the score 0-0 heading into the second.

Roncalli broke the scoreless tie in their half of the second, putting four runs on the board.  Junior Drew Biddle stroked a 2 RBI triple which was then followed by senior Brad Fey’s RBI single.  The Rebels other run that inning came off an error.

Steinbrunner once again got three consecutive outs in the bottom of the second, maintaining the four run lead.  The Warriors bats woke up in the bottom of third with freshman Jordan Bare leading off the inning with a double.  Sophomore Jeff George followed Bare’s double with an RBI single, and eventually scored on senior Charlie Dant’s hit up the middle, cutting the Warriors deficit to two. 

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, still down two runs and senior Colin Hawk now on the mound for Roncalli, the Warriors scored four runs, taking a 6-4 lead off two walks and multiple errors by the Rebels’ defense. 

Piercey, still pitching for Warren Central, started off the top of the sixth inning by walking the first two batters.  After striking out the third batter of the inning, junior Drew Biddle singled to load the bases.  Piercy then struck out the next batter, giving the Warriors two outs, with bases still loaded.  Hawk then produced an infield hit, scoring senior Jordan Reeser to cut the lead to one.  An error on Jason Simpkins ground ball to short allowed two more Roncalli runs to score, giving the Rebels a 7-6 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Warren was unable to score the rest of the game, giving Roncalli the 7-6 win and the Sectional 10 Championship. 

Roncalli will face Northview this Saturday at 10 am at Avon HS.