London vs Brock
The London Pirates come out on top in the 3A State Championship at Dell Diamond beating the Brock Eagles 16-13 in a game that set the state record for most runs scored in a championship game. The two teams combined scored a record setting 29 runs, had 24 hits, took 13 base on balls and were credited with 25 RBI’s
The visiting London Pirates started Blayne Lyne on the mound. Brock started the hitting right away with Tyler Moody leading off the top of the first with a single to left. After a strike out, and a walk, Cam Harris hit a double scoring Moody from second. With Shaffer at third, Luke Stills grounds out to first scoring a run. Then Ian Fuchs turns a single into a inside the park HR when the pitcher takes the cut-off throw and goes back to second base and the ball flies into center field and rolls to the wall. That ended the scoring for Brock, leading 4-0 in the top of the first. In the bottom half of the inning, Mason Arispe walked, Kade Budd and Jacob hit singles to center. After a Martinez fly out, Landon Salinas hits an RBI single to Center. Then a Rudy-James Oliveras walk, Blake Watters hits a Sac Fly scoring Jacob. Jacob Gonzales then walks and with the bases loaded scoring a run. That would end a 50-minute 1st inning with the teams tied at 4 apiece.
Brock would respond in the top of the second, Arden led off with a single, Massey got on with a FC and with the E1 both runners were safe. Cooke got on when his come backer to the pitcher got the lead runner at third. Then the flood gates opened. Moody singles, Strosnider singled, and Peyton Shaffer hit a monster triple clearing the bases and making the score 8-4 Brock. Cam Harris finished off the scoring with a RBI on a E4 that scored Shaffer. Going into the bottom of the second with Brocks Dusty Baker now pitching, Budd strikes out then Jacob walks, Martinez and Salinas both singled and with the bases loaded Oliveras hits a sac fly to center scoring a run. Then Blake Watters steps up and slams a double in the left center gap and two runs scored. That would end the second inning with Brock leading 9-7.
Both teams went scoreless in the third, With London’s Ethan Ortega pitching, Brock went scoreless in the top of the 4th. Then in the bottom half, London’s Mason Jacob doubled, Jacob and Salinas singled and Blake Watters, the games MVP broke it open with a double clearing the bases and giving London it’s first lead of the game 10-7. The inning would end with London leading 12-9. Pitching in the 5th, Ortega again held Brock scoreless, when London came to bat in the bottom half of the 5th they piled on 3 more runs with a couple of walks and a single from Jacobs, a double from Oliveras and a sac fly from Watters.
Going into the top of the 6th, Ortega gave up 4 hits including back-to-back doubles from Luke Stills and Ian Fuchs. Brock had scored 4 runs with nobody out. Blake Watters then came on to pitch and retired the next 3 hitters. London would add a run in the bottom of the 6th on a single from Martinez making the score 16-13 going into the 7th. With London’s ace Kade Budd available with 18 pitches left from yesterdays game, London decided to stay with Watters who got them out of the 7th. Watters responded with getting 2 quick outs the striking out #4 hitter Cam Harris to get the win for London and bring the state title home. Watters said, “I know Kade had pitches left but coach had confidence in me to end it and we did.” London’s coach Amaya trying to catch his breath after the game just had one word to say referring to last year’s 7th inning loss in the championship game against Malakoff, “redemption.”
London’s Blake Watters wins the game MVP. At the plate he was 2-2 with 2 doubles, 2 sac flies and 5 RBI’s. He came into the game in relief in the 6th inning with the bases loaded with Eagles and got 3 straight outs. He closed out Brock in the 7th including the game ending strikeout to get the win for the Pirates.
