Franklin celebrated its HCAC title win on Manchester's home field. HCAC photo

Franklin upended top-seeded Manchester for the second time in two days and captured the 2011 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball championship. The Grizzlies capped a three-game run through the tournament by defeating Manchester, 9-0, on May 14 at Gratz Field.

With the victory, Franklin earned the HCAC automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Grizzlies improved to 29-12 overall this season.

In Saturday's championship victory over the Spartans, the blue and gold offense exploded for nine runs against the Manchester pitching staff. FC belted four home runs in the win.

Freshman Scott Windler (Lafayette, Ind./Central Catholic) finished the game 3-for-6 with a two home runs, three runs scored, and two RBI. Senior third baseman Alex Boone (Carmel, Ind./H.S.) blasted a home run and finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Jordan Smuts (New Haven, Ind./H.S.) added FC's final home run on the day.

Shawn Mattingly (Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central) started the game on the mound for the Grizzlies and provided a complete game effort, shutting down the potent Manchester offense. The junior allowed six hits and zero runs, while striking out three Spartans.

Franklin got off to a quick start, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. The Grizzlies put the game out of reach, scoring a single run in the fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth inning.

Franklin advanced to Saturday's championship round by virtue of the winner's bracket. The blue and gold, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, topped Rose-Hulman 13-3 on Thursday and secured their spot in the championship game by defeating Manchester, 9-7 on Friday.
The NCAA tournament draw will be released on May 16.

2011 Baseball All-Tournament Team

MVP Shawn Mattingly, P, Franklin
IF Jordan Smuts, Franklin
OF Scott Windler, Franklin
DH Nick Stoia, Franklin
P Curt Mallery, Manchester
IF Trey Forbes, Manchester
IF Jay Sheets, Manchester
P Jim Bob Schuler, Rose-Hulman
OF Michael Kovacs, Rose-Hulman
IF Brett Detty, Anderson