1A State Championship – Slocum v Fayetteville

Slocum would get rolling in a hurry due to two hit by pitches to put runners on base.  A walk would load the bases.  A wild pitch would score the first run of the game.  A single by Taylor Lomax would drive in 2 more before Fayetteville Pitcher Damon Gerick could stop the bleeding.  In the bottom of the first, Fayetteville would go quickly.  Slocum would capitalize in on a dropped 3^rd strike and an error to add one more in the top of 2.

Fayetteville would get a runner on in the bottom of the second due to a walk, but couldn’t plate him.  Control issues in the top of 3 would force a pitching change by Fayetteville.  Jerrette Brown would take the bump.  Allowing one hit on a single by Randy Guess, Brown would record the final two outs to send us to the bottom of inning.  With 2 outs, Braden Rhode would hit a high fly ball to center for what appeared to be the 3^rd out.  Communication error between the center and right fielder resulted in the ball deflected off Center Fielder Ben Haney’s glove and allowed Damon Gerick to score.

Slocum would only get Taylor Lomax on base in the top of the 4^th due to a hit by pitch.  In the bottom of the 4^th, Fayetteville would make the most out of a hit by pitch, a walk and an error.  Lyle Muesse would drive in one to bring the score to 5-3 at the end of the 4^th.  In the top of the 5^th, a walk-single-single-walk, would score run number 6 for Slocum.  It was an important run, but it turns out it wasn’t needed.  Slocum’s Austin Sarraf would retire the 3 batters he faced in the bottom of the 5^th.  Taylor Lomax would come in relief for Slocum and retire the next six to secure the win for Slocum.  The final was Slocum 6 Fayetteville 3.

WP –  Austin Sarraf

LP – Damon Gerick

Player of the Game:  Austin Sarraf