The Brook Hill Guard got timely hitting and took advantage of Bay Area Christian miscues to win 9-2 and capture the TAPPS Division III State Championship. 3B Cooper Schock, who was 2-2 with a double, rbi and 3 runs, was named the Championship Game MVP by THSB.
Bay Area Christian’s Owen Townsend opened the game with a double and later scored on a Coen Gonzales single giving Bay Area Christian the early 1-0 lead. However, Brook Hill responded with 3 runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. They loaded the bases on an error and 2 walks. Braxton Durrett came up and singled home 2 runs. Lex Rich later scored on an error to make it 3-1 in favor of Brook Hill.
Bay Area Christian picked up another run in the top of the 2nd on an Townsend RBI single cutting Brook Hill’s lead to 3-2. But once again, Brook Hill responded with 3 runs. Dallas Clements scored on error. Schock got an RBI double and later scored on an error making it 6-2. From there it was all Brook Hill.
Brook Hill picked up another run in the 3rd on a Dallas Clements RBI single and picked up 2 more in the 6th. Rich hit an RBI single and courtesy runner Atticus Rhoads scored on an error to make it 9-2.
Levi Vasser came in to relieve starter Blake Whitten in the 4th inning. He shut down Bay Area Christian the rest of the way giving up only 2 hits and no walks with 3 Ks.
“The comraderie of this team is unlike anything I have ever had before,” Schock commented. “We just clicked and we got after it this year. Coming into the state tournament I was in a kind of hitting slump. But me and Coach Smith worked on it in the cage and things started to click. After my first hit yesterday it’s been good.”
“The intangibles of this team is off the chart,” Brook Hill Head Baseball Coach Don English described. “Hard work, the way they love each other, the way they practice and the way they love to compete. I’ve had some great players in the past but I’ve never won a state championship until today. I’m proud of the kids. I’m happy for them and for the school and for their families and a little happy for myself too.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |||
| Bay Area Christian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | ||
| Brook Hill School | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 9 | 6 | 0 |
