FORT BRANCH, Ind. — Jake Mazzier finds a sense of relief each time he steps on the pitching mound.

It sounds simple. The last two years have been anything but for the Gibson Southern High School senior pitcher. Mazzier could count on one hand the number of varsity appearances, for one reason or another, he made prior to this spring. That's why this season was finally a return to normal.

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Mazzier, a Western Kentucky commit, has been a breakout piece for one of the top teams in Southwestern Indiana approaching the midway point of the 2026 season. The senior allowed only one earned run through his first 21 innings to headline a deep Gibson Southern pitching rotation.

"It felt great just to be back and healthy," Mazzier said. "Help out my squad. We’ve been doing well with a deep pitching staff this year. Glad to add onto it."

Mater Dei's Max Miller (6) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Joe Mangan (25) hits as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Cooper Collins (6) hits as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Cooper Collins (6) sprints for first as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Cooper Collins (6) catches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Colton Wonning (7) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) is safe at second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Colton Wonning (7) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) runs for third as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026./Mater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) runs for home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) hits as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) runs for first as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) rounds second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Eli Kane (2) sprints for home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) runs home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) slides home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) celebrates at home plate as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Will Hoffman (3) swings as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Donta Henderson (1) misses the ball as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Will Hoffman (3) slides for second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026./Mater Dei's Will Hoffman (3) is tagged out by Vincennes Lincoln's Calvin Doggett (12) as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Colton Wonning (7) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Darret Branson (10) runs home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) runs for third as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Donta Henderson (1) fields a ball as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Nick Collins (17) slides for third as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Max Miller (6) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Cole Breeden (23) outs a runner as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Calvin Doggett (12) is called safe at second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) outs a runner as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Jacob Caldmeyer (5) outs a runner as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Joe Mangan (25) throws to first as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Brady Anderson (27) throws to second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Justice Johnson (19) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Calvin Doggett (12) fields the ball as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) runs for thrid as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Calvin Doggett (12) outs a runner as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Vincennes Lincoln's Cooper Collins (6) hits as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.1 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Max Miller (6) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.1 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Max Miller (6) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.2 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Joe Mangan (25) hits as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.3 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Cooper Collins (6) hits as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.4 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Cooper Collins (6) sprints for first as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.5 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Cooper Collins (6) catches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.6 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Colton Wonning (7) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.7 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) is safe at second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.8 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Colton Wonning (7) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.9 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) runs for third as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.10 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball action/Mater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) runs for home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.11 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) hits as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.12 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) runs for first as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.13 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) rounds second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.14 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Eli Kane (2) sprints for home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.15 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) runs home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.16 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) slides home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.17 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Dylan Murphy (1) celebrates at home plate as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.18 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Will Hoffman (3) swings as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.19 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Donta Henderson (1) misses the ball as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.20 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Will Hoffman (3) slides for second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.21 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball action/Mater Dei's Will Hoffman (3) is tagged out by Vincennes Lincoln's Calvin Doggett (12) as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.22 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Colton Wonning (7) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.23 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Darret Branson (10) runs home as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.24 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) runs for third as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.25 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Donta Henderson (1) fields a ball as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.26 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Nick Collins (17) slides for third as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.27 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Max Miller (6) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.28 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Cole Breeden (23) outs a runner as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.29 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Calvin Doggett (12) is called safe at second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.30 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) outs a runner as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.31 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Jacob Caldmeyer (5) outs a runner as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.32 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Joe Mangan (25) throws to first as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.33 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Brady Anderson (27) throws to second as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.34 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Justice Johnson (19) pitches as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.35 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Calvin Doggett (12) fields the ball as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.36 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionMater Dei's Nolan Schickel (13) runs for thrid as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.37 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Calvin Doggett (12) outs a runner as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.38 / 38Mater Dei host Vincennes Lincoln in high school baseball actionVincennes Lincoln's Cooper Collins (6) hits as the Mater Dei Wildcats host the Vincennes Lincoln Alices at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.Mazzier was a known commodity in local baseball circles. Why the lack of production?

He sat out most of his sophomore season due to limited eligibility after transferring. There were three appearances in May (eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings) as the Titans scratched out a 16-14 season. He expected to play a big role last spring until mounting discomfort in his elbow became too much. The diagnosis was a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). No surgery was required.

The bad news? Mazzier needed 12 weeks of rehab while adhering to a strict throwing program. Any misstep in the process could prematurely end his high school career.

"It was halfway to Tommy John," Mazzier said, referring to the surgery, which typically requires 12 to 18 months of recovery time. "(The injury) happened in preseason, just in bullpens over time. Kind of felt it. We didn’t recognize it until the beginning of March."

The Titans took a step forward with 22 wins and a co-Pocket Athletic Conference championship before losing in the sectional final. It did so largely without Mazzier, who, once cleared, threw 25 pitches against Mater Dei on the final weekend of the regular season. The right-hander allowed one unearned run with one walk and one strikeout in 2/3 innings.

It took him another two months before finding his groove. A precursor to what has been, by any measure, a successful start to his lone full season of varsity baseball. Mazzier is 4-0 with a 0.33 earned run average with 40 strikeouts in four starts heading into Thursday's pivotal conference meeting against No. 10 Heritage Hills.

The skills are immediately noticeable. He pounds the zone with a 90-mile-per-hour fastball but can throw multiple secondary pitches for strikes. Mazzier also works quickly, bringing a necessary tempo for the defense to rely upon.

"He keeps hitters guessing on a pitch-by-pitch basis," Gibson Southern coach Bobby Segal said. "Our defense stays locked in because he gets the ball back, gets a sign, and delivers strike one. His big strong point has been getting ahead of batters and having secondary pitches he can locate for strikes."

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The high point so far came on April 16. Mazzier went one batter over the minimum to toss a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in a 7-0 win against Mount Vernon. He followed that start with 12 punchouts and one hit allowed in five innings against Terre Haute North.

The only earned run allowed came against Forest Park – a home run via the first pitch of the game.

"I felt really good," Mazzier said of the recent stretch. "Just being healthy and throwing 85 pitches. I filled up the zone and stayed consistent. I feel like a leader for those guys. I have more velocity for high school baseball and able to dominate with that."

Mazzier No-Hits Wildcats!! Great game, Jake!!#titanpride pic.twitter.com/qOVisHgPLf

— Gibson Southern Titans (@GSTitans1) April 17, 2026

Mazzier has been the centerpiece of a deep pitching rotation. The Titans allowed only 12 earned runs through their first 12 games – juniors Brogan McClellan and Kolton Schmitt both had sub-1.00 ERAs, with the latter tossing a no-hitter against Princeton on April 23. Senior lefthander Cam Truxal (Olney Central signee) also has 21 strikeouts in five appearances.