JEFFERSONVILLE – Seymour completed a three-game season sweep of Bedford North Lawrence, winning the one that mattered most as the Owls conquered the Stars 1-0 during the Class 4A sectional semifinal on Saturday.
Seymour pitching ace Braden Richey (7-0) allowed only three hits while authoring his fourth shutout of the year. The Owls (18-7) pushed across their only run in the top of the seventh inning while advancing to face Jeffersonville (16-10) in the championship on Monday night.
”He was good,” BNL coach Steven McNabb said. “His numbers are legit, he’s a senior on a mission. He gave his team everything he had and made it tough on us.”
The Owls could not solve BNL sophomore starter Cutler Chastain until the final frame. Jackson Trueblood started the rally with a single to center, and Mikey Wright reached on a bunt single. After Ty Nicholson dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners, Richey helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly to right field.
”Cutler was unbelievable,” McNabb said. “What the future holds for him, the upside is very good. We just happened to fall on the wrong side of a great game.”
Richey fanned seven and walked two while ending BNL’s seven-game winning streak. He gave up a double to Jaden Gilbert in the first, a single to Cam Gates in the fourth, and a single to Grayson Gillespie in the seventh. Chastain nearly matched that, surrendering only three hits while striking out seven.
BNL finished the season 19-7. Seymour also topped the Stars 3-2 on April 21 (at Seymour) and 5-2 on May 16 (in the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament consolation at BNL).
“We just had to get the timely hit and we didn’t get it,” McNabb said. “Unfortunately it stinks and I hate it for our seniors. What they have done for us, I can’t thank them enough. The foundation has been laid and I couldn’t prouder.”
The Owls are chasing their first sectional championship since 1995. BNL came up short in its bid to reach the sectional final for the fifth time since winning the crown in 2017.
In the first semifinal, Jeffersonville clipped Floyd Central 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the eighth. The Highlanders, the defending sectional champions, finished 13-14. The Red Devils are chasing their 28th overall sectional title. They last won the trophy in 2023.
