nwitimes.com | Posted: Sunday, July 17, 2011 10:00 pm
CHESTERTON | It was three long years ago when Nick Doud set out his plan to create a title-winning baseball team in Porter County.
Doud's vision was realized Sunday evening when the Porter County Storm won the Babe Ruth 16-18 state tournament at Chesterton High School with a 3-1 victory over the Hammond Hurricanes.
The Storm (18-2-1) will travel to Lexington on Thursday for the Ohio Valley Regional tournament along with the runner-up Hurricanes.
"I told these guys when I formed the team in 2008 that if we stayed together, we could win a championship," Doud said. "If we stayed together, we could be really good. I think we are really good."
Porter County starting pitcher Cody Triscik was dominant once he shook off a rocky start in the first inning. The Hurricanes got hits in three of their first four at-bats, but Triscik managed to get out of the inning with just one run crossing the plate.
"I knew they were a good hitting team and I just wasn't hitting my spots in the beginning," Triscik said. "Once I was able to hit my spots, I was able to get in control."
Zach Thorn was the offensive hero for the second straight day as the Portage senior blasted a two-run home run in the third inning. Thorn hit a deep fly to left field in his first at-bat and was able to clear the fence his second time to the plate.
"I actually called my shot before I went up there," Thorn said. "I was joking with some of my players and I said that I was going to get it a little farther my next time up."
Thorn admits that he generally struggles with his offense on Chesterton's field while playing for the Indians in the Duneland Athletic Conference, but with his two-run game-winning double against South Bend Eastside on Saturday night and now his game-winning two-run home run Sunday, Thorn might have a change of heart.
"I knew it was gone as soon as I made contact," Thorn said. "I was just thinking about a base hit, but he gave me my pitch and I just knew it."
The Hurricanes (21-9) never seriously threatened again after the first inning and had just one runner in scoring position over the final six innings. Despite losing in the championship game, coach Alex Ramirez will still lead his team to Lexington later this week.
"This was a hard-fought game and Porter County was the better team today," Ramirez said. "Maybe down the road we'll meet again and we'll be the better team."