Tuesday, June 16, 2015
SPORTS
The Fayette County Record
B1
The members of the 2015 Flatonia baseball team sport their new gold medals and show off their state title trophy moments after winning Thursday’s state title game 4-3 over Crawford.
Dogs’ Day
Photo by Jeff Wick
Flatonia Baseball Team Wins State Title in Thrilling Fashion By JEFF WICK
R
The Fayette County Record
OUND ROCK – With a finish for the ages, the Flatonia baseball team rallied to win its first state baseball title since 1993 as the Bulldogs came from three runs down to stun Crawford 4-3 Thursday in the 2A championship game in front of 1,571 fans at Dell Diamond. Casen Novak hit a basesloaded single to left field to score Gus Venegas with the winning run, and almost as soon as Novak had touched first, the Flatonia dugout was emptying for a mid-field dog-pile. “It couldn’t have been a better ending,” said Flatonia head coach Shawn Bruns, who was the head coach the last time Flatonia baseball won state. The title game victory was made extra special by a number of factors, particularly because Flatonia had lost in the state title game last year, and because for so long Thursday it appeared the Bulldogs might be headed for another silver-medal finish. Flatonia trailed 2-0 after the first inning and 3-0 after the third. “I can’t even describe it,” said senior Marcus Mica, who had pitched a complete game in Wednesday’s 8-2 victory over Booker to vault Flatonia into the title game. “I don’t even know what to say. “When you experience a loss like last year, it’s just an unbeatable feeling after you win it all.” Even as each inning passed with Crawford still holding the lead, Bruns preached patience to his players. “I just kept saying, ‘Stay the course,’’ Bruns said. “I knew we could get to them. I told the guys, ‘We’re a better team than them and we would prove it by the end of the ballgame.’” “It ended up being one of those days that it was meant to be for us. It was two teams battling it out until the last out of the seventh inning. That’s why base-
“I never thought I could feel so happy.”
– Flatonia senior Gus Venegas, who scored the winning run ball is so much fun. You have no time clock on it. You play until the last out.” While Flatonia dominated late, it was Crawford that took control early, scoring two first inning runs off starting pitcher Gus Venegas before he gave way to sophomore reliever Kaddin Mikulik with just one out in the first inning. Mikulik would pitch into the third inning and give up no hits but one run before another sophomore, Easton Migl, would take over on the mound. Migl hurled 4.1 innings of scoreless relief to get the win. “That’s what wins championships when your pitching staff can do that, keep you in the ballgame when the starter doesn’t have it,” Bruns said. Crawford didn’t get a hit in the seventh through sixth innings. While Venegas had struggled on the mound for the Bulldogs he made up for it later in the game in centerfield, making a running catch to save two runs and later throwing out a Crawford runner at third base. Venegas also scored that gamewinning run. After having to use both of their top two pitchers in the state semis Wednesday just to get to the state title game, Crawford sent junk-ball side-armer Braden Nemec to the mound to start Thursday’s title game. And he dominated the Bulldogs early, the only exception being a second inning double by Marcus Mica off the left field wall that was just feet from being a home run. “We haven’t faced anybody See Bulldogs, next page
Lane Janecka reacts seconds after the win.
Flatonia head coach Shawn Bruns is showered with a bucket of gatorade by his players after Thursday’s victory. Photo by Stephanie Steinhauser
The Bulldogs mob each other seconds after winning Thursday’s title game.
Photo by Jeff Wick