Hanover athletics photo

KOKOMO, Ind. – The Hanover Panthers were crowned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions on Sunday afternoon, bringing Hanover their first HCAC Tournament title. The Panthers defeated the Transylvania Pioneers on back-to-back days, taking the championship 9-6.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Junior Sam Perkins (Louisville, Ky.) was crowned the Tournament's Most Valuable Player batting .556 with six RBI and 10 hits. Senior Alex Christie (Greenwood, Ind.) earned All-Tournament team honors with an impressive .409 average and team-high seven RBI. Rounding out All-Tournament team honors was sophomore John Girard (Richmond, Ky.). The gun slinger posted a 3.38 ERA pitching lights out for the Blue and Red.

LONG TIME COMING
The win marks the first title for the Hanover Panthers in program history. With the title, the Blue and Red completed the sweep of both the regular season and the HCAC Tournament title. Head Coach Grant Bellak collects his first HCAC crown at the helm.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Much like the earlier meeting, the Panthers stole the momentum first using a three run first inning paced by Alex Christie and senior Eric Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.), 3-0.

The scoring ensued as senior Connor Farnsley (Jeffersonville, Ind.) produced a major run for the Blue and Red recording an RBI walk that pushed the Hanover difference to 4-0.

The fourth inning, saw Mr. MVP himself, Perkins single to left center scoring junior Andrew Osterling (Batesville, Ind.), 5-0.

With emotions running high, the Pioneers looked to erase the deficit as a three run fourth had Hanover on their heels, 5-3.

However, Perkins delivered once more with a clutch RBI through the left side that pushed the difference to 7-3.

Oesterling and Farnsley handled the rest as they both added key RBI that lifted Hanover to victory.

ON THE MOUND
Junior Chris Hautman (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) got the win throwing five complete for his sixth win of the season. Girard quickly became the story line pitching two and two thirds after going the distance the night before. The sophomore claimed his first save.

SELECTION SHOW
The Panthers will await the NCAA selection show on Monday at noon for their Regional opponent.