Dragons' Hodge caps memorable season with MVP

From the start of his freshman year, Keelan Hodge has always been tabbed to pitch in Junction City’s biggest games.

Even on a loaded staff this spring with senior T.J. Bale and junior Ty Disotell, it was Hodge who got the call to pitch in Junction City’s openers in the district, regional and state tournaments.

In Friday’s 2A state title game, Hodge was called upon to try and lead the Dragons to their ninth state championship.

He delivered.

The junior earned MVP honors after holding Woodlawn to just two hits and one run with five walks and nine strikeouts in Junction City’s 2-1 win at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.

“Keelan is one of the hardest workers we have,” said Junction City coach Joe Paul Hammett. “He has a strong desire to be the best. That competitive spirit drives him to do what it takes to be successful.”

Hodge’s performance capped a memorable season for the junior, as well as a perfect postseason for the Dragons.

In five postseason starts, Hodge went 4-0, allowing just 10 hits and six runs in 22 1/3 innings. He walked 12 and struck out 35.

Pitching in big games is nothing new for Hodge, who won 17 games as an underclassman and showed a glimpse of what was to come by going 8-2 with a 3.20 ERA as a freshman that included a 1-0 win over Atkins in the opening round of the state tournament two years ago when Junction City was in 3A.

A year ago, Hodge struck out 101 batters in 42 innings of work en route to posting a 9-3 record with a 4.27 ERA.

But as a junior, Hodge was outstanding.

Against 8-2A foes during the regular season, Hodge was superb, firing 26 2/3 scoreless innings.

He allowed just 10 hits and walked nine, but what made his streak even more dominant was the volume of strikeouts he notched.

Out of the 80 outs he recorded during the streak, 55 were via strikeout, including 18 against Spring Hill.

Hodge won both of his starts against Woodlawn, limiting the Bears to just four hits and one run in 11 innings. He walked seven and struck out 19.

Hodge didn’t allow a run to an 8-2A team until Harmony Grove scored twice in the first inning in his start in the district tournament.

Pitching on short rest, Hodge allowed three runs while recording only one out against Parkers Chapel in the finals of the regional tournament, but if there were any questions about Hodge going into the state tournament, they were answered emphatically.

In the opening round of the state tournament against Carlisle, Hodge struck out 13 en route to a one-hit shutout in a 9-0 win.

Hodge’s performance on Friday capped a terrific run by the Dragons’ pitching staff in the postseason.

Overall, the Dragons allowed a grand total of nine runs in nine games while firing three shutouts.

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