Panthers take title after defeating Tigers in semifinal game

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The Western Panthers are the 2026 IHSAA Sectional champions in the Class 3A bracket. Unfortunately, they had to end an ambitious run by the Northwestern Tigers in the semifinal game on May 30.

Northwestern battled mightily but couldn’t overcome Western’s relentless offense. The Tigers managed two runs on seven hits, including a single and a double by Kade Dill. who drove in a run with one of his hits.

Ajax Garcia also drove in a run with a single, and William Rees scored after driving a triple deep into the outfield. Braden Taylor scored after reaching safely on a single.

Starter Landen Begley allowed four runs in three innings, though only one of those runs was earned. He also walked three batters while striking out three. Taylor came on in relief in the fourth inning but failed to retire any of the five batters he faced. All five Western batters scored,

Jaxson Trueblood was called upon to stop the bleeding. He managed to get out of the fourth with just one run scored against him, but Western touched him for another run in the fifth, causing the Tigers to turn to Ian Woods to finish the inning.

Jaiden McNulty took the ball to start the game for the Panthers. He pitched through the fourth, earning the win before giving way to Nathan Condo to finish the game. Stats for the Panthers weren’t available.

Western went on to win the sectional by defeating West Lafayette by a 9-5 margin. But the Panthers’ title run was stopped cold in the regional by DeKalb, 2-1.

Western finished the season with a 26-3 record, though their 6-1 mark in Hoosier Conference play was only good for third place behind the 8-1 records of Twin Lakes and Lafayette Central Catholic.

Northwestern finished at 20-6 and captured the Three River Conference title with an 8-1 record.

See photos from this game, including galleries for both teams, courtesy of Adam Hartsough, on the Lantern’s Facebook page.