Nationally Ranked Lutheran South Pioneers Capture TAPPS Division 2 Championship

 admin  |    May 13th, 2025

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TAPPS DIVISION 2 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

		1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Lutheran South Academy		0	0	3	0	4	0	4		11	9	2
Grapevine Faith		0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	4	4

Lutheran South Academy came into this game nationally ranked and had not given up a run in the playoffs.  They solidified their ranking and completed their playoff scoreless streak as they won over Grapevine Faith 11-0 to capture the 2025 TAPPS Division 2 State Championship.

Lutheran South broke open a tight game in the top of the 3rd.  With one out, Easton Bettcher got a hard hit infield single.  The bases get loaded on two consecutive hit batters.  Bettcher then scored on a wild pitch for the first run of the game.  Omar Serna then singled to left field scoring Marcus Cantu.  Victor Coronado then hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Jaylen Walker.  Lutheran South led 3-0.

Lutheran South added to their lead in the top of the 5th.  Brody Smith had a 2 RBI doubleTroy Gonzalez had a 2 RBI double.  Lutheran South led 7-0.

While Lutheran South was scoring runs, their pitcher Grant Burns was preventing runs.  And through 6 innings, the senior had shut out Grapevine Faith on just 3 hits with 8 strikeouts.

Lutheran South added 4 more runs in the top of the 7th.  Cantu doubled home 2 runs to make it 9-0.  Serna picked up another RBI with a Sacrifice Fly and Cantu scored on error as he was tagging to 3rd Base.  Lutheran South had an 11-0 lead.

Burns came back out in the 7th to finish the game.  He got a strikeout and a groundout before giving up an infield single.  He then got a groundout to 1st Base to secure the TAPPS Division 1 State Championship for Lutheran South.  Burns had a complete game shut out, gave up only 4 walks, struck out 9 and did not walk a batter.  He was named the THSB Championship Game MVP.

“I knew I had to get ahead today, throw strikes and get ground balls.” Burns recounted.  “I was able to do that and get my outs.  This championship is a feeling of relief and excitement.  All this team has gone through, all the work we have put it.  I’m glad all these guys got to experience what those who were before us experienced.  I’m hoping we leave a legacy so that those behind us can experience the same thing.”

“I’m so excited for these guys,” Coach Aaron Schneider commented.  “They’ve worked hard and they’ve been locked in all year long.  We’ve been motivated ever since we were knocked out of the regionals last year.  I’ve told these guys several times ‘I live to see them have a dogpile at the end of the season.  The chance for them to experience that is awesome.  And I’m so happy for Grant Burns.  He was awesome out there.  We told him that it was going to be the Grant Burns show today.  And it was.”