East Hardy's baseball team, despite a challenging regular season marked by injuries and a 8-15 record, remarkably won their first state championship since 1987. They achieved this by defeating Madonna 10-7 in nine innings in the Class A state title game. The Cougars overcame an early 5-0 deficit, tying the game twice before securing a 10-7 lead in the ninth inning with key hits from Dayton Dove and Mason Hamilton. Pitcher Shayne Sisler, who had been injured for much of the season, closed out the game for East Hardy. This victory marks a significant turnaround for the team, led by head coach Tyler Mongold, who played in the 2012 championship loss.