Ovilla Christian Claims TAPPS Division V State Baseball Championship

 admin  |    May 13th, 2023

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		1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Ovilla Christian	.	4	0	0	3	1	0	3	.	11	11	1
Sacred Heart	.	2	1	0	0	2	1	0	.	6	6	3

Ovilla Christian scored 11 runs on 11 hits to defeat Hallettsville Sacred Heart 11-6 and capture the 2023 TAPPS Division V Baseball Championship.  It is the first baseball championship for Ovilla Christian in school history.

Ovilla Christian jumped on the scoreboard early with 4 runs in the top of the 1^st.  Wesley Bryant and Micah Ward scored on an infield throwing error.  Tucker Navarro had an RBI single and M.J. Langford scored on a wild pitch.

Sacred Heart responded by picking up 2 runs in the first on RBI singles by Wade Shimek and Brady Haas.  They cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the second on a Tyler Hawkins RBI single.

Ovilla Christian extended their lead to 7-3 in the top of 4^th.  Jake Misemer and Bryant scored on bases loaded hit batters and Lucas Seymore scored on Caleb Bjerke fly ball to right field.  They made it 8-3 in the 5^th as Bryant scored on a fielding error.

Sacred Heart continued to battle and picked up 2 runs in the 5^th on a ground out RBI by Josh Terry and a Sacrifice Fly by Shimek.  They picked up another run in the 6^th on a Ty Noska single to cut the Ovilla Christian lead to 8-6 heading into the final inning.

Ovilla Christian got some big insurance runs in the top of the 7^th.  Misemer scored on a passed ball and Bjerke got a 2 RBI single scoring Bryant and Ward, Bryant’s 4^th run of the game.  It gave Ovilla Christian a 5-run lead headed to bottom of the 7^th.

Senior pitcher Langford shut down any comeback attempt by Sacred Heart getting two ground outs and a strikeout to end the game.

Freshman Jake Misemer was the winning pitcher with 4 IP, 4 Hits, 5 BB, 5 Runs, 3 ER, and 2 K.

Sr 1B Wesley Bryant was named the THSB Player of the Game.  He was 4-5 and scored 4 times in the game.  “I was trying to not think too much at the plate.  Just see the ball, hit the ball.  Compete at the plate.  But after I got that first hit I started feeling really comfortable at the plate.”  On the championship: “It’s an amazing feeling.  Our school has been to the state tournament many times but to be part of the team that actually brings it home is unbelievable.”

Coach Greg Hayes commented on winning the State Championship – “I’m just so happy for the guys.  They’ve put in so much work and I’ve had a lot of these guys for four years.  They’ve been so focused since the beginning of the year.  Every practice, every game has always been about this weekend.  It’s a great feeling and it’s a great thing for this school.”

THSB Player of the Game – Wesley Bryant