The Brownstown Central baseball team will take on Covenant Christian in the semistate semifinal at Mooresville High School later today at 11 a.m.

The winner of the Braves and Warriors will play the winner of Mitchell and Heritage Christian in the semistate championship on Saturday night at 8 p.m.

Brownstown has been on an incredible run, starting with winning the sectional championship for third time in school history, then one week later winning the program’s first regional championship by defeating Providence in extra innings.

Covenant Christian, meanwhile, won its sectional for the fifth time in school history, and last week’s 13-1 victory over Cloverdale was also the Warriors’ first regional championship.

Now, these two programs will battle in semistate, so let’s take a look at the tale of the tape.

Brownstown’s hitting leaders are Carson Darlage, batting .469 with 38 hits, 31 RBI, 39 runs and four home runs. Ethan Garland is hitting .414 with 46 hits, 23 RBI and 44 runs, and Pierson Wheeler is batting .306 with 30 hits, 22 RBI and 24 runs. Jaxson Johnson is hitting .300 with 27 hits, 17 RBI and 16 runs.

Hitting above .300 and playing in over 20 games for Covenant Christian are Brad Nardi (.452, 38 hits, 20 RBI, 27 runs), Nolan Jones (.433, 39 hits, 18 RBI, 22 runs) and Ethan Kimmerle (.368, 28 hits, 21 RBI, 5 runs).

Kimmerle and Nardi have done the bulk of the pitching for the Warriors. Kimmerle has pitched 51.1 innings with a 1.64 ERA and 61 strikeouts, and Nardi has pitched 47.1 innings with a 1.77 ERA and 83 strikeouts.

For Brownstown, Garland has pitched 53.1 innings with a 2.62 ERA and 40 strikeouts. Darlage, who got the start last week against Providence, has pitched 34.1 innings with a 1.22 ERA and 66 strikeouts. Dalton Reedy has pitched 43 innings with a 2.77 ERA and 51 strikeouts, and Trent Lowery and Ethan Fultz have both pitched over 20 innings, as well.

The Braves bring a record of 24-8 into today’s semifinal, while the Warriors are 14-15. Both teams tested themselves in the regular season, playing multiple 3A and 4A schools, and both teams are looking to continue their respective historic runs.

Only one will advance to the championship Saturday night on this road to Victory Field next week.