Groveton Centerville Claims 1A State Championship with 2-0 Victory Over Gordon

 admin  |    Jun 6th, 2026

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ROUND ROCK — In a game featuring two outstanding pitchers and two of Texas’ premier Class 1A programs, Groveton Centerville used an early offensive surge and a dominant pitching performance from senior ace Kolt Larsen to defeat Gordon 2-0 and capture the UIL Class 1A State Championship at Dell Diamond.

Groveton Centerville entered the title game with a 23-1 record and a growing reputation as a team to beat in Class 1A baseball. Across the diamond stood Gordon, a program with a long history of athletic success and a team making its second consecutive appearance at Dell Diamond and its second state tournament appearance in baseball.

The championship matchup featured two hard-throwing senior right-handers. Gordon turned to Aiden Shank, whose fastball sat between 84 and 87 mph, touching 88 a few time, while Groveton Centerville countered with Kolt Larsen, who regularly worked between 85 and 87 mph.  Kolt is committed to Sam Houston State University. Both pitchers entered the game looking every bit like state championship-caliber starters at any classification.

Groveton Centerville struck quickly in the opening inning.  The Bulldogs manufactured two runs in the top of the first and that proved to be all the offense they would need. Drew Larsen ignited the attack, and Groveton Centerville capitalized on an early opportunity to grab a 2-0 lead before either team had settled into the game.  From that point forward, the afternoon belonged to the pitchers.

Larsen was nearly untouchable on the mound. The senior right-hander scattered just four hits across seven shutout innings while striking out 11 Gordon hitters. Time and again, he worked out of trouble and prevented Gordon from generating the timely hit it needed to cut into the deficit.

Shank was equally impressive despite taking the hard-luck loss. The Gordon ace battled through 5 2/3 innings, allowing only two runs while striking out 10 hitters and keeping his team within striking distance throughout the contest. One of the game’s biggest defensive moments came in the fourth inning when Shank caught Eli Emmons trying to steal second base, ending a Groveton Centerville threat and keeping the game close.  Gordon had opportunities to rally but could never find the breakthrough. The Longhorns left seven runners on base and finished 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Larsen repeatedly came up with the big pitch when needed, preserving the shutout.

The Longhorns turned to senior Stryker Reed in relief with two outs in the sixth inning, and he gave Gordon a chance. Reed allowed just one baserunner while striking out two over the final 1 1/3 innings. Groveton Centerville finished with five hits and flawless defense, while Gordon collected four hits in a tightly played championship game that featured no errors by either team.

When the final out settled into a glove, Groveton Centerville had secured a 2-0 victory and the Class 1A state championship. Behind Larsen’s complete-game shutout and a pair of first-inning runs, the Bulldogs completed a remarkable season and cemented their place atop Texas Class 1A baseball.