By Chris Parker
As the sun set in the waning innings of the Class 2 state championship game, the shadows started to creep across the field.
No player cast a bigger shadow than Warsaw senior Brylee Brewster.
Brewster threw seven shutout innings with 11 strikeouts while driving in the game’s only run to lead Warsaw to 1-0 win, and the program’s first state title since 2010.
“(The feeling of victory is) true joy. I know how bad they wanted it, and we wanted it for them,” Warsaw head coach Kelli Eierman said. “I can’t think of a more deserving team.”
Brewster and Diamond sophomore Taelyn Reeder locked horns in a classic pitcher’s duel.
Brewster struck out the first two batters of the game before junior Aubrey Ball knocked a two-out double to centerfield for the game’s first hit. Brewster struck out the next batter to end the threat.
In the next inning, Warsaw got two on with Sara Miller and Brewster each knocking singles, but Reeder struck out the other three hitters to stop the threat.
The game was relatively quiet on the offensive end until the third inning. With one out in the bottom of the third, Miller knocked her second hit, a single, to left. Haylee Cobb followed with a bunt single which saw Miller go first-to-third, putting runners at the corners with one out.
Brewster strode into the box and promptly rapped a single to left to bring Miller in for the game’s only score.
From there, Brewster and Reeder were in complete control through the sixth inning with each team mustering just one base runner each over the three successive innings. The duo went about their work in different manners with Reeder punctuating each strikeout with emotion while Brewster remained stoic throughout the game.
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“She doesn’t show a lot of emotion,” Eierman said. “She stays calm all the time and that is what makes her so successful. She doesn’t let the highs or lows get her.”
Brewster’s ability to remain calm came under fire in the seventh inning.
Ball got her second hit of the game with a double to centerfield to lead off the final frame for Diamond.
With the game-tying run in scoring position with no outs, Brewster and the entire Warsaw team had to regroup.
“When the first girl got on and everyone said ‘it’s ok’ I think they all really believed ‘it is ok, we are going to get through this’,” Eierman said. “That support I have talked about them having all season stepped up big right there.”
Brewster settled in and got the next batter to strike out.
“I like to stay calm and collected. I don’t show too much emotion. That is just how I am. I like to keep it collected,” Brewster said.
On the next batter, Talyn Daniels advanced Ball to third on a fielder’s choice leaving Warsaw one out from a state championship, and Diamond one swing away from tying to game or even taking the lead.
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“It was a little stressful, but I was just thinking attack, don’t let her get up in the count, get strikes on her and just trust my defense and know they will make an out,” Brewster said.
Diamond’s Kenzie Crook battled Brewster with several foul balls before hitting a fly ball to Miller a second base, which Miller caught for the final out to set off a celebration 15 years in the making for the team and the community in the stands.
“I love this town so much and I am so grateful that I could play with these girls,” Brewster said. “The people that were here to support us means the world to us.”
Warsaw finishes the season with a 24-2 record overall. The Wildcats graduate just two seniors in Brewster and Cobb.
Diamond completed its season with a 28-8 record overall. Reeder finished the game with 12 strikeouts in six innings in the circle. Four seniors graduate from the Wildcat roster including Lauren Turner, Sara Roszell, Kabrie Parmley and Chassidy Doby.
