Giant Killers: Local Boys Run Tournament Gauntlet to Claim Indiana State 15U AA Baseball Title

MIKI RIEHLE

L to R Kneeling: Zayden Johnson, Lane Smith, Hayden Poole, Reed Taylor
L to R Standing: Coach Troy Riehle, Coach Rich Block, Kasin Bowling, Bentley Eaglin, Shawn Riehle, Westin Hountz, Boden Block, Kartter Murray, JT Richardson, Zander Burkett, Coach Izzy Burkett, Coach Rex Smith
SEI Havoc is proudly sponsored by the Versailles American Legion Post 173

Small but mighty, the Southeastern Indiana Havoc 15U baseball team went 6 – 0 in Indiana’s AA USSSA State Tournament this weekend, becoming the #1 ranked team in Indiana and #3 of 484 USSSA teams nationwide. The team is based out of Milan and is sponsored by the Versailles American Legion Post #173. The team consists of 15 and 14 year-olds from Milan, Jac-Cen-Del, South Ripley, Switzerland Co., and Franklin Co. The Havoc defeated the Newburgh Arsenal (Newburgh, IN) 14-2 and Dragon’s Elite 9-3 (Ft. Thomas, KY) during Friday’s pool play to earn the #2 seed going into Saturday and Sunday’s elimination tournament. Bode Block and Zander Burkett, both left-handers, were dominant in their respective wins while their Havoc teammates out hit the opposition 25-6. The rest of the games, however, were to be tightly contested and hard fought.

Saturday’s contest against the Five Star Indiana White (Greenfield, IN) found the Havoc behind 8-4 in the team’s last at bat. The boys rallied with three hits and five runs to win in dramatic fashion. A costly error by Greenfield and aggressive base running by Havoc accounted for three of the five runs. Hayden Poole beat out a deep throw from short to first base to drive in Bode Block for the winning score. Shawn Riehle earned the win for the Havoc, pitching in relief for the last 2.2 innings. This game was played at Columbus East High School. All of the other games were played at CERALAND Sports Complex outside of Columbus; all games were on turf infields.

SEI Havoc returned to CERALAND and played three games on Sunday. First up was the Oaklandon Bombers (Indianapolis, IN). The contest was tied at 4 until JT Richardson hit an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to grab a tenuous 5-4 lead. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Richardson hammered a grand slam home run over the fence in right-center to give the Havoc a 9-4 victory. Left-hander Bode Block was back on the mound for Havoc and earned the win giving up 4 runs (3 earned) with 4 hits, 4 walks, and 8 strikeouts. Kasin Bowling earned the save with two scoreless innings, adding two strikeouts of his own. SEI Havoc outhit the boys from Indianapolis 12 – 4. Richardson’s five RBIs lead all players.
The semi-final matchup came against the Dirt Dogs from Floyd’s Knob, IN and included select players from throughout the Louisville metro-area. Right-hander Lane Smith went the distance for the Havoc, pitching all 7 innings while surrendering three runs, six hits, five walks, and dealing four strike outs. SEI Havoc was winning 3-0 until the Dirt Dogs were able to string some hits together in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 3 runs apiece. SEI Havoc left the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth but failed to bring in a run. The Havoc defense retired the side in the top of the seventh with Havoc’s second, third, and fourth hitters due up in the final frame. Shawn Riehle and Lane Smith both singled, bringing Kasin Bowling to the plate. The Jac-Cen-Del slugger belted a single into left field scoring Riehle to end the barn burner and send SEI Havoc to the championship game. The Havoc out-hit the Dirt Dogs 9 – 6 in the contest, with the last three hits on consecutive batters in the bottom of the seventh and final inning to secure the victory.

The championship game featured the tournament’s #1 and #2 seeds going head-to-head – a rare occurrence given the quantity and quality of teams battling for the state title. The Grizzlies from Kokomo, IN were the consensus favorites to win it all and had dispatched tough opponents of their own from Burlington (KY), Evansville, Fort Wayne, Bloomington, and Whiteland. Kasin Bowling took the mound for the Havoc having only thrown 21 pitches in his Save against the Oaklandon Bombers earlier in the day’s first game. Despite being out-hit by the Grizzlies 10-7, the SEI Havoc defense delivered an error-free performance. The contest was close throughout with SEI Havoc scoring two runs in the top of the third when Bowling hit a clutch 2-out line drive to center field driving in Bentley Eaglin and Hayden Poole. The Grizzlies wasted no time regaining the lead in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own off of five hits aided by strong winds trailing a recently passed storm front that pushed outfield flies into gaps and an unfriendly bounce of an otherwise harmless infield grounder off the base of the turf mound. SEI Havoc tied the game in the top of the 4th inning when Bode Block stole second base and the throw from the catcher was mishandled by the Grizzlies second baseman, ending up in shallow center field for the game’s only error. Block was able to regain his feet and take 3rd base with only one out. Westin Hountz grounded out to drive in Block to tie the game at 3 runs where it remained until the top of the seventh and final inning.

SEI Havoc started at the top of their lineup with lead-off hitter Hayden Poole beating out another infield single, this one to the third baseman down the left field line. Shawn Riehle hit into a fielder’s choice to reach first base, but Poole was thrown out at second where he was able to break up the timing for the potential double play. Lane Smith then reached on an infield single to the third baseman advancing Riehle to second. The Grizzlies intentionally walked Kasin Bowling to bring up Zayden Johnson from Vevay who had come in off the bench to play second base in the 6th inning. Johnson hit a ground ball into the hole between 3rd and short. The Grizzly short stop was able to snag the ball but could only settle for Johnson at first while all runners advanced with Riehle scoring the go-ahead run from third. Johnson’s RBI gave his team all the breathing room it would need. SEI Havoc was able to absorb a double from the Grizzlies in the bottom of the seventh and Bowling struck out the final batter to secure a 4-3 victory and earn SEI Havoc the title of the 2026 Indiana 15U AA State Champions. Bowling took the win and gave up three runs off of ten hits in seven innings of work while walking none and striking out seven.

The SEI Havoc team is almost entirely made up of players from Ripley and Switzerland Counties – JT Richardson (OF/P/SS) from Franklin County being the only exception. The rest of the small town communities contributing to this championship team are as follows: Jac-Cen-Del players: Westin Hountz (3B/1B) and Kasin Bowling (OF/P); Milan players: Hayden Poole (OF/2B/SS), Lane Smith (C/P), and Zander Burkett (P/1B); South Ripley players: Shawn Riehle (SS/2B/P/C), Boden Block (P/1B/2B/OF), and Kartter Murray (3B/1B); Switzerland County players: Bentley Eaglin (OF), Zayden Johnson (2B/3B/OF), and Reed Taylor (OF/3B).

The grit and determination of this team can be summed up in one telling statistic: SEI Havoc outscored the opposition 18 – 5 from innings 5, 6, and 7 throughout their tournament run. This team was able to absorb the best blows from their larger opponents and still find a way to fight back and win in the end when the chips were down and their number was called. No young man on this team flinched in the clutch or shied away from his duty. Congratulations to all the coaches, mentors, parents, players, and the Versailles American Legion Post 173 in achieving this great victory. The area communities are honored by their play and contributions!