First Baptist Academy Cruises to State Championship with 6-1 Win over Ovilla Christian

TAPPS DIVISION 5 STATE SEMIFINAL

First Baptist Academy’s quest for their first state championship since 1986 got one step closer with a 6-1 victory over district rival Ovilla Christian. First Baptist will now meet Sacred Heart for the Division 5 State Championship on Friday at 1:00 PM>

Ovilla Christian got on the board in the top of the 1st. Leadoff hitter N Nunes singled and was bunted over to second base. J Misemer then singled up the middle to score Nunes giving Ovilla Christian the early 1-0 lead.

First Baptist picked up a couple or runs in the bottom of the 2nd. C Lambeth opened up the inning with a single. S Hanlon reached second base on error and Lambeth advanced to third base. P Gough then singled scoring both Lambeth and Hanlon giving First Baptist a 2-1 lead.

First Baptist made it 3-1with another run in the bottom of the 3rd. M Gutierrez walked to open the inning. He went 2nd on a wild pitch and to 3rd on an error. He then scored on a C Laney ground ball.

First Baptist continued to increase their lead with a run in the 4th. H Brown scored on the double steal play. They picked up another run in the 5th when S Cobio scored on a Lambeth ground out. They scored another run in the 6th when Brown scored on a Gutierrez single.

Gough secured the win by shutting down Ovilla Christian in the bottom of the 7th with two strikeouts and a ground out that he fielded.  He pitched all 7 innings, gave up just one run on 6 hits, struck out 5 and walked only 2.  Gough also had the 2 RBI single in the 2nd inning that gave First Baptist the lead for good.  He was named the THSB MVP for the game,

“I just wanted to limit the walks and throw strikes and live away,” Gough state.  “I was able to have success with that today.  Our team is gritty.  Everybody is willing to work hard.  In practice, In the weight room.  The culture and mindset is different here and it is fun to be around,”

“We knew we had to come in today and throw strikes and play good defense,” Head Coach Tyler Hill explained.  “As a team, we find ways to manufacture runs.  We did all that well today.  These guys have been state champions in other sports.  They are used to being front runners.  They are used to being expected to win.  And they know how to handle that well without being arrogant.”