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on in the seventh when Rayce Sharpe was hit by a pitch, but RTCA couldn't get anything else going as they lost Game 2, 10-0, to Flint River.
Game 3
On Monday of this week at Tattnall Square in Macon RTCA battled their way to a win and the State Championship. Banks Hopkins got the start on the mound for RTCA and pitched a solid game.
RTCA got a couple of runners on base in the top of the first inning, but could not get them across. RTCA held in the bottom of the first inning to keep the game scoreless.
In the top of the second, RTCA couldn't get anything going. In the bottom of the inning a double and then two walks by the Wildcats loaded the bases. They came through with with a single to take a 1-0 lead. RTCA got out of the jam, though, giving up just the one run.
In the top of the third inning, Randall had a base hit, and then Durden followed that with a single. Randall went to third on the hit, and Durden took second on the throw to third. Kight came through with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Wildcats answered, albeit in a bit of controversy. Flint river had a runner on first, and on a ground ball it appeared that RTCA came up with a double play, but the runner at first was called safe. The next batter for Flint River hit a two-run home run to left field to give them a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Crusaders made a move. They had two runners on base, and then a walk to Blake Durden loaded the bases with no outs. Sauls walked with a run coming in to close the lead to 3-2. That forced a pitching change by the Wildcats.
Up next was Randall, who did hit into a double play, but Blake Durden scored to tie the game at 3-3. RTCA added another run on a couple of errors on a ball hit by Tripp Durden. That put the Crusaders on top, 4-3.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Wildcats had two runners on base and came through with a big base hit to tie the game at 4-4.
In the top of the fifth inning, RTCA couldn't answer, and in the bottom of the frame, the Wildcats made a move. With the bases loaded, a walk and a hit batter put the Wildcats back on top, 6-4, over RTCA.
In the top of the sixth inning with two runners on base, Randal came through with a single to load the bases. That was followed by a 2-RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. Gage Brantley followed that with maybe the biggest hit of the game as he came through with a huge sacrifice fly that gave the Crusaders a 7-6 lead over Flint River.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, RTCA got into a bit of trouble, but Tripp Durden came in and got them out of the jam, stranding two runners on base, sending the game to the seventh with RTCA on top, 7-6.
In the top of the seventh, RTCA could not add to their lead moving the game to the bottom of the final inning with a one-run lead.
Durden walked a runner and then a hit put runners at first and second with no outs for the Wildcats. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third, as Flint River threatened to take the win. Durden buckled down and got the next batter on a line drive. He struck out the next two batters as RTCA held on to take the Championship.
It was a fitting game for a Championship, with the ball bouncing RTCA's way just a few more times in the game as they took the title, 7-6, over Flint River.
Head Coach Brian Fitzgerald said, “What a game, just look at the score, 7-6. Nobody expected us to be here, but these kids just came to play. We had some great individual efforts out there today, I mean look at Banks pitching like he did. We just survived some tough situations, and came through with some clutch hits when we needed them. Phenomenal season, just so proud of our guys, and thankful to all the players, the coaches, the parents, and everyone involved. It is just great to say that we are State Champions.”
