Underwood BB Shut Down in Substate Loss to Unity Christian, 4-0

Underwood BB Shut Down in Substate Loss to Unity Christian, 4-0 –

(7-14-26) – A magical run for Eagles baseball comes to an end.

Underwood baseball has been a fixture at the State Baseball tournament since 2021, but came up on the short end of a 4-0 loss to Unity Christian in the 2A-Substate Championship game on Tuesday.

Despite their season ending, Eagles Coach Andy VanFossan sees similarities in this group of players with a previous state championship team.

“I think that's the biggest thing I'm going to remember is because this sophomore class reminds me a lot of the senior class that when they won in ‘24 is they've got some good players. They've got the pieces there.”

Underwood couldn’t generate any offense against junior right-hander Adler Von Essen, who allowed just four base-runners, struck out five and walked none. Keaton Hawkins had both hits for the Eagles in the game.

Ryker Adair was 0-2 with a hit by pitch in his final game for Underwood. VanFossan had nothing but praise for the type of player and person Adair developed into through his high school career.

“As he goes, we’re going to go,” said VanFossan of his senior 3rd baseman. “Seeing him mature, seeing him take a leadership role, I mean, it's still rough, but taking a leadership role and leading by example, is invaluable.”

VanFossan gives a lot of credit to his coaching staff of Brad Blum, Drake Adair, and Clayton Luett.

“It's definitely a group effort. And we've been together long enough where, we kind of know what the other one's thinking. It's just a matter now of, okay, how are we going to get that to the kid, and get them and tell them in a way that they can understand it and they can implement it themselves.

With the consistency of their program and having reached the 2A State Tournament five consecutive seasons previous, VanFossan hopes his team realizes what they’ve accomplished while the rest of the league has been gunning for them.

“I hope they feel like they can play with anybody and I think that's something that, well, I shouldn't say, I think I know that's something we talked about after the game.”

Underwood ends their season at 22-5.

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