Championships are not supposed to come easily.

But the overall accomplishment of the Delphi Senior League baseball team is one that has never been duplicated during the 40-year existence of the annual Town & Country Baseball State championship.

Delphi lost to Northwestern late Monday night in North Manchester in a doubleheader finale of the double elimination tournament by scores of 15-1 and 4-2.

It marked the end of an unprecedented Town & Country League Tournament state championship run for Delphi. The local team was attempting to add a fifth straight title with the core group from this team.

Last season's history-making fourth straight championship was a first for any team in the tournament (dating to 1969) and was Delphi's first-ever at the tournament's marquis Major League division (12-&-under). This is the most difficult to claim because the size and skill level of nearly every opposing team is more developed and finely-tuned.

Delphi started the winning tradition in 2004 with its firstever baseball state championship of any kind at the Minor League level (8-&- under). The team claimed consecutive titles in 2005 and 2006 in the Junior League (10-&-under) before the program's accomplishment in last season's breakthrough championship.

Including last night's finale, it also marked the sixth straight year that the Delphi team was contending for a state title.

Again playing in a rich talent pool of competition, this year's trip to the championship game was not without roadblocks ¯ there was very little domination, and this team had to earn its way at every step in order to still be there in the finale.

Northwestern entered Monday night from the oncedefeated loser's bracket of the double-elimination tourney after climbing back from a 6- 2 loss to Delphi on Sunday. Northwestern needed to win both games of the doubleheader in order to secure the title and they did just that despite a tremendous effort in game two from the defending champions.

Delphi took an early 1-0 lead in the 1st inning on consecutive hits to open the game from Kolby Myer and Brent Hawn, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly from Hayes Cronk to score Myer with the first run.

Trailing 2-1 in the 3rd, Delphi used an RBI single from Hawn to score Garrett Johnson, who had led off the inning with a walk to knot the game at 2-2.

The Tigers added the decisive runs in the 4th inning, but still had to hold off one last final inning rally to claim the championship.

Delphi loaded the bases in the bottom of the 6th and final inning with hits from Hawn, Ostin Clark and a walk to Elliott Atkinson, but was unable to comeback, losing by the 4-2 final.

In the first game, Northwestern took control early, scoring four in the 1st inning. They continued to pound out 17 hits in the contest en route to the lopsided margin of victory.

In addition to beating the Tigers the first time on Sunday, Delphi also defeated Alexandria 8-3 and Marion 11-1 over the weekend to advance to the championship game.

Other members of the team include Jason Sterrett, Coy Cronk, Brandon Tonsoni, Mason Lane, Tyler Arion and Garrett Bean.

Delphi is coached by Nick Cronk, with help from David Hawn, Jeff Johnson, Steve Myer and Jimmy Arion.

Other tournament news

Delphi's Junior Leaguers also advanced to the state tournament for the 10 and unders at Rochester and defeated Nappanee before falling to top-seeded Northwestern and Mentone.

Flora's Minor League team also qualified for the 8u State finals at Walton, but results were not known at press time