Late heroics keep Central Catholic baseball's postseason run alive

LAFAYETTE − Tim Bordenet‘s Central Catholic baseball teams have had no shortage of postseason magic through his 12 state championship game appearances and nine titles.

The latest came Monday afternoon at Loeb Stadium.

After surrendering a two-run lead in the seventh, including a game-tying squeeze bunt, Isaiah Hopkins and Gus Sandberg delivered a response in a thrilling 3-2 Class 2A regional championship win over Lapel.

Hopkins’ one-out triple in the bottom of the seventh set the stage for Sandberg.

<1 / 28

<2 / 28

<3 / 28

<4 / 28

<5 / 28

<6 / 28

<7 / 28

<8 / 28

<9 / 28

<10 / 28

<11 / 28

<12 / 28

<13 / 28

<14 / 28

<15 / 28

<16 / 28

<17 / 28

<18 / 28

<19 / 28

<20 / 28

<21 / 28

<22 / 28

<23 / 28

<24 / 28

<25 / 28

<26 / 28

<27 / 28

<28 / 28

Sandberg’s fly ball found enough distance for Bordenet to send Hopkins home for the winning run, advancing the Knights (25-6) to Saturday’s 11 a.m. Class 2A north semi-state semifinal at Oak Hill against Bluffton (17-10).

The walk-off heroics made a winner of pitcher Cayden Keller, who had six strikeouts and allowed five hits.

Alex Schummer’s first-inning single and LJ Whitford’s RBI single in the second gave Central Catholic an early 2-0 lead that nearly held up.

The regional title is Central Catholic’s 18th, all in the past 24 tournaments, and third as a Class 2A program.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Central Catholic baseball wins regional title