INDIANAPOLIS — Andrean senior right-hander Ivan Mastalski described it as “a picture-perfect ending.”

Mastalski had taken the loss as the starter in both the 2023 Class 3A state championship game against Silver Creek and a 2024 sectional opener against Hanover Central.

But not this time.

“I’m so happy I was able to persist,” Mastalski said.

The Indiana recruit allowed an unearned run on one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings out of the bullpen as Andrean rallied to beat Jasper 4-3 to win the 3A state title at Victory Field on Friday night.

“I’m so happy to finally get it done,” Mastalski said. “This is what I wanted to do all four years.”

Andrean (31-3), which finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the state coaches poll, was making its third appearance in the state final in four years, most recently winning the title in 2022. The streak was interrupted last year, when Hanover Central won 22-2 in an eye-opening sectional result that added to the 59ers’ focus this season.

“When you think about Ivan, Ivan started the state championship game his sophomore year,” Andrean coach Dave Pishkur said. “He was on the mound his junior year and did not get an out in the sectionals. He faced seven batters, and they all got on base. He was kind of shell-shocked.

“He came up to me and was like, ‘Coach, are you going to lose faith in me, or are you going to give me a chance my senior year?’ I said, ‘We’re going to pitch the best guys.’ He got sick early in the year, lost a lot of weight. He came back gradually, and every time he came back, he got a little bit more juice. But what he had that I don’t know if I’ve seen him have is a ton of heart. He pitched with passion. I’m so happy for him.”

Mastalski, who was a state qualifier in golf last year but did not play this season, entered Friday with a 5-0 record and a 1.74 ERA.

“Ivan’s our guy,” Andrean senior shortstop Mason Barth said. “There’s no better guy to get out there and shut them down. I knew he was going to. Everybody trusts him, and he’s the guy for us.”

The 59ers trailed 2-0 before scoring two runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings.

No. 7 Jasper (28-7) scored a run in the bottom of the seventh and had the bases loaded, but Barth recorded a game-ending strikeout to give Pishkur and the 59ers their ninth state title, tying Tim Bordenet and Lafayette Central Catholic for the record.

“Mason’s not a guy who has pinpoint control,” Pishkur said. “We’re rolling the dice there. But if he threw strikes, we felt pretty good. What a great job.

“He hasn’t thrown a game in a month, and he gets the final out of the game. … Our best player on the team, one of the best players in the history of Andrean, and he got his chance to get the final out. It has to feel great for him.”

Barth, a Notre Dame recruit, confirmed it did.

“Big game,” he said. “I was nervous a little bit. But I had my trust in my guys. I had my trust in the Lord. I wasn’t scared out there.

“I was ready for it. I was excited for it.”

Andrean snapped a 2-2 tie with two runs in the seventh.

Sophomore third baseman Chase Nelson led off the inning with a single, and senior catcher Blake Kouder was hit by a pitch. Barth also was hit by a pitch.

With one out, senior left fielder Charlie Sollars was hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run, and senior designated hitter Steven Mack walked to make it 4-2.

“Whoever counts us out doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” Mack said. “We’re the Andrean 59ers. We’re always here. We’re always in the game.

“We started doing some things in the offseason to get us mentally prepared for this game. It worked. Our coaches and leaders prepared us. This is the most prepared state championship team.”

The 59ers had tied the game in the sixth. Junior first baseman Kaden Maxwell and Sollars singled with one out to put runners on the corners, and Mack delivered a sacrifice fly. Junior right fielder Luke Goben then hit a run-scoring single.

Meanwhile, Mastalski, who is one of seven seniors on the team, held Jasper in check.

“It is now officially over,” Pishkur said. “Business is over. Business is finished.

“Awesome. Awesome. Such a great group of seniors. … I’m so happy for the seniors and the coaching staff.”