Gannon Grant's No-Hitter Propels Center Grove to Regional Championship

GREENWOOD — During the pregame warmups for Saturday's Class 4A regional championship against Richmond, Center Grove pitcher Gannon Grant felt particularly strong. His confidence soared when, in the first inning, he delivered a fastball that severely jammed Red Devils shortstop Weston Jones, resulting in Jones's composite bat breaking into two pieces. "That's probably my first time," Grant remarked about breaking an alloy bat. "In summer ball I've broken some wooden bats, but I've never seen an (Louisville Slugger) Atlas break. It was kind of cool, like 'Shoot, am I throwing harder today?'"

Grant's fastball consistently clocked between 92 and 94 miles per hour, even reaching 95 at its highest. The Richmond hitters struggled to catch up with his velocity. Along with his powerful fastball, Grant utilized a sharp slider and a changeup, accumulating 13 strikeouts in six no-hit innings, leading the Trojans to a decisive 12-0 win. He came close to a perfect game, with just an error and a hit batter standing in his way.

Center Grove coach Keith Hatfield praised Grant's performance, noting, "A no-hitter in the tournament doesn't happen very often. He battled through heat, he battled through long innings. In this heat to stay composed and stay hydrated in the dugout, staying energetic, it's real easy to relax after (leading) 6-0 in two innings. I thought his mental focus was really, really good today."

The game took place under sweltering conditions, with temperatures soaring into the 90s. The Trojans' offense mirrored Grant's intensity, scoring two runs in the first inning and three more in the second. Drake McClurg kicked off the scoring with a double, while errors allowed both McClurg and Liam Delp to cross the plate. Delp contributed a two-run double in the second inning, and Grant also made his mark with a solo home run in the fourth. McClurg, Delp, Grady Grant, and Jackson Burnett each recorded two hits.

Following a first-inning error, Grant retired 14 consecutive batters. Richmond coach Michael Medley acknowledged Grant's skill, stating, "He's just a guy who's going to bring all his stuff. He mixes his pitches well. He's got good pitch speed. He's a real good pitcher. He's tough to hit."

This victory improved Grant's record to 8-0, and with a lowered ERA of 0.82, he solidified his status as the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year. The Trojans had faced a challenging game against Perry Meridian in the sectional final, but Grant's strong performance against Richmond showcased their determination as they aim for success at Victory Field.