KERRVILLE — Boerne Champion wrapped up its third straight district title in baseball last Friday with a 5-2 victory at Kerrville Tivy.
The Chargers had at least a share of the title going into last week and wanted to win it outright in Thursday’s meeting with the Antlers, but Tivy won in a shutout, 3-0.
Champion had one last chance to secure the 26-5A crown outright on Friday and didn’t waste the opportunity. The Chargers defeated the Antlers in Kerrville, 5-2.
Champion finishes the season at 13-3 in district and 27-4-1 overall. The Chargers begin the playoffs Thursday at home against Buda Hays, 7 p.m.
Hays will host on Friday, 7 p.m., and if a third game is needed, it will take place Saturday. Details, TBD.
To win three straight district titles with different players over the last three years is hard to do, but Chargers coach Ben Woodchick said his players persevered.
“It’s an amazing accomplishment for this program. We knew when this district was designed it would be a dog fight just to get in the playoffs,” Woodchick said. “Many kids on this team have gone 25-7 over the last two years against some of the best in the state and are 3-time district champs. I’m super proud of our kids.”
Champion 5, Tivy 2
The Chargers tallied single runs in the second, third and fourth innings, but the Antlers answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut into the lead, 3-2.
A sac fly in the sixth allowed the Chargers to double up Tivy at 4-2 and then they pushed in another run in the top of the seventh.
Two Kerrville batters made it on in the bottom of the seventh with one out and the Antlers had runners at second and third, with the tying run at the plate, but two catches in the outfield ended it.
Owen Kuhl went the distance for the Chargers on the mound and threw an efficient 83 pitches in seven innings to get the win. Kuhl gave up 9 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and struck out 1.
Champion was outhit by the Antlers, 9-7, but 2 of the Charger hits were doubles. Kuhl doubled and singled, Lyndon Austin hit 2 singles, scored twice and drove in a run, Garland Whitehead doubled and scored, while Austin Garritano and Zak Al-Arashi both singled and drove in a run.
Champion 0, Tivy 3
The Chargers were shutout for the first time this season and Woodchick said the team learned from Thursday’s loss in the game held in New Braunfels.
“It taught our team a lot about what it takes to close big games in a playoff- type atmosphere. It takes what it takes, and we were unprepared mentally and emotionally to win,” he said. “But they responded well in Game 2 and got a taste of the intensity and execution level necessary to close out a big game late in the season. That atmosphere will exist in every game moving forward, so we must learn to thrive in the chaos.”
Tivy pushed in a run in the second and added two more in the fifth to account for all the runs.
Champion outhit the Antlers, 4-3, but also committed 3 errors that allowed Tivy to score 2 unearned runs.
Brody Bendele and Garland Whitehead doubled for the Chargers, while Cal Isley and Jaedyn Yamaguchi singled. Yamaguchi and Austin Garritano both walked to account for two more base runners.
Ethan Coleman tossed all 7 innings and yielded 3 hits, while giving up 1 earned run, 3 walks and striking out 3 batters.
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