Madison Academy held off a feisty Sipsey Valley club twice Thursday to capture the Class 3A state baseball championship. The Mustangs earned a 3-2 win in Game 1 and another 3-2 win in Game 2.
“You never know when you have state-championship caliber teams,” Mustangs coach Mike Good said. “So much good play is required. I think you saw two really good teams that survived some tough series to get here and put on a great performance.”
“I don’t think you could find two better ball clubs in Class 3A.”
Bo McLaughlin was named the series MVP and went 3-for-4 while Will Acuff went 2-for-2 with two RBIs in Game 2.
The Mustangs (34-13) never trailed in either game, but the Bears responded every time MA tried to pull away. Madison Academy led 3-0 in Game 2 until the sixth inning when the Mustangs gave up a pair of runs to the Bears in the sixth. in seven innings.
Starting pitcher Greg Lambert managed to keep his composure and deny the tying run. He allowed two earned runs, three hits allowed and had seven strikeouts.
Sipsey Valley’s Justin Thomas went the distance as well, finishing with three earned runs, nine hits allowed and five strikeouts. The Bears finished the year with a 36-17 mark in their fourth season in school history.
In Game 1, Taylor Clemens (11-1) got the win on the mound for Madison Academy, allowing five hits, two runs and stuck out one in 5 2/3 innings. Jake Christa went 2-for-2 with an RBI for the Bears.