Beckville Wins 3A Title in Extras

ROUND ROCK, Texas- The sheer intensity brought upon by the last day of baseball of the 2018 high school season was felt across all of those in attendance at Dell Diamond on June 9. The faithful in the stands were graced with such energy bright and early.

The 3A state final matchup between the Clifton Cubs and Beckville Bearcats was underway by 9 am, and the morning buzzed with a 10-inning finale that saw the Bearcats claim the 3A state title with a 5-4 win.

The Cubs struck first in the 3rd inning, as senior first baseman Fisher Pitts singled to left field, scoring Carter Guinn. An Edgar Rodriguez single of the same variety plated Mason Brandenberger in the 4th inning, extending the Clifton lead to 2-0.

Clifton’s Brandenberger, a 2020 graduate, was dominant on the mound for the Cubs for much of the ballgame, recording 10 strikeouts to only two walks through 6 ⅔ innings. The sophomore lefty was also 1-3 with three walks at the plate, but Beckville found a path to the scoreboard in the 4th inning.

The Bearcats loaded the bases after consecutive singles and a hit batter to open the 4th. Outfielder Bryce Osborn drew the third walk of the inning, trimming the Cubs lead to 2-1. Brandt Harris poked a single through the left side of the infield to score another two Bearcat runs, with Beckville retaking the lead at 3-2.

The Cubs jockeyed back into lead in the 6th after a Hunter Ringo RBI infield single, but Beckville managed to plate a run in their half of the 7th inning to send the 3A state championship into extra innings.

Each team’s relief tensely pitched without damage through the 9th inning, with Beckville again afforded the walk-off chance in the 10th inning. Bearcats’ first baseman Ty Jones led off the 10th with a double, and advanced to third on a throwing error. Forced to load the bases with none out, Clifton saw its shortstop Guinn temporarily save the game with a phenomenal diving stop and throw to home.

However, Beckville plated the winning run after a ground ball to third bounced away from the Clifton infield.

STATS
Beckville
Bryan: (W) 4 IP, 62 TP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 K, 2 BB
Jones: 2-5, R
E. Harris: 1-4, R
B. Harris: 1-5, 2 RBI

Clifton
E. Rodriguez: (L) 2.2 IP, 43 TP, 1 R (0 ER), 2 H, 1 K, 3 BB, 1-5, RBI
Brandenberger: 6.2 IP, TP 115, 4 ER (3 ER), 4 H, 10 K, 2 BB, 1-3, 3 BB
Pitts: 2-4, RBI
A. Rodriguez: 1-5
Ringo: 1-3, 2 RBI