INDIANAPOLIS — It all was new for Illiana Christian freshman Tanner Post.
Not so much for the Vikings, but Post fit right in anyway.
“My emotions are everywhere right now,” he said.
Post went 3-for-3 on Friday as Illiana Christian topped Covenant Christian 3-0 at Victory Field to win the Class 2A state championship for the second consecutive season.
“Just a good time with my boys,” he said. “I’ve been here with them all year. I knew we could do it.”
Post did it on the biggest stage.
“It was my mentality,” he said. “Just refusing to strike out, putting the ball in play, making them make a play, getting on base, letting the guys behind me work.
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“It’s been nothing but fun. I felt welcomed from day one. I didn’t feel like I wasn’t good enough for the job. They always had my back, and I always had theirs. We rolled like that.”
The Vikings (25-9), who rolled past Centerville 10-1 in the 2022 state final behind ace Kevin Corcoran, got another stellar pitching performance from the senior left-hander against Covenant Christian (16-16).
“It’s awesome,” Corcoran said. “Obviously, last year was a Cinderella story. We came in, nobody really knew who we were. This year, we came in with high expectations. Losing a lot of guys from last year, how do you react to it? We reacted really, really well.
“Guys took some big steps up. As a team, we’ve really, really improved. We had a freshman go 3-for-3. … Not many freshmen can say they did that in a state title game. Having guys step up in big spots, it was really, really awesome to see.”
Corcoran tossed a six-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk.
“He grinded,” Illiana Christian coach Jeff VanderWoude said. “He didn’t have his best stuff. But as the game went on, he got better.
“He’s been here. He’s done it. He’s a competitor. I’m really proud of him. What a way to go out his senior year.”
Corcoran, who said it was “different from last year” because Covenant Christian “hit the ball hard all over the park,” aided his cause with three pickoffs. Two came in the third inning, and two came at second base involving junior shortstop Isaac VanderWoude.
“We work on it all the time,” Corcoran said. “Simple things. Not many kids can pick off at second base consistently. We work on it, especially Isaac, reading runners and getting free outs when you can get them.”
The Vikings scored two unearned runs in the fourth. Senior first baseman Cody DeJong, who went 2-for-3, punched a leadoff single to right field, and Post followed by lining a ball to right that went for a single and a two-base error. Senior designated hitter Matt Bultema added a run-scoring fielder’s choice.
“Unbelievable,” Corcoran said of Post. “Coming in, I knew him. I knew his brother — he played basketball with me. I knew he was a talent. But coming into a situation like this, you’ve never been in it before. Being so young and producing the way he did, he’s going to be a special talent for Illiana for a long time.”
The Vikings added a run in the sixth. DeJong and Post again started the inning with singles. DeJong stole second, and then he and Post pulled off a double steal, with DeJong scoring.
Isaac VanderWoude had two doubles, and senior left fielder Josh Vis had one.
Post, whom Jeff VanderWoude described as “a dude,” entered the game hitting .392 with 15 RBIs.
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“He’s outstanding,” DeJong said of Post. “It’s amazing to see him do what he did. He’s been a great player all year. He’s a great friend, a great teammate.
“It just feels outstanding. No. 1 felt so good, and this one feels just as good. It’s the greatest feeling in the world. I’m with the boys, all my best friends. I love my team. It’s great to be able to win this with them and celebrate.”
Illiana has won two state championships in just three seasons of Indiana High School Athletic Association eligibility.
“Amazing,” Jeff VanderWoude said. “I’m just proud of the boys. All the hard work they did came to fruition. They really stuck together and played a heck of a game. It was awesome. … We talked to the boys about leaving a legacy, doing things the right way.”