Golden Eagles break through to state finals

The REPORTER

After years of trying, the Guerin Catholic baseball team is in the state finals.

The Golden Eagles triumphed at the Class 3A Jasper semi-state Saturday, June 13 at Ruxer Field. Guerin Catholic won two hard-fought games to advance to the 3A state championship game this Friday at Victory Field.

First, the Golden Eagles took care of Providence 3-0 in the semifinals. Guerin Catholic rode a remarkable performance from pitcher Tate Troxell. The Alabama-bound senior threw a complete game, striking out nine and allowing only two hits.

Guerin Catholic scored its first run in the opening inning. Nolan Ratcliff led off with a double and got home after Carson Kail hit a sacrifice fly. The Golden Eagles scored their other two runs in the third inning. Ian Taylor tripled in Ratcliff, then Kail singled Taylor home.

Championship game

Guerin Catholic beat Gibson Southern 4-2 in the championship game.

After three scoreless innings, Ben Canada smacked a lead off home run to get GC on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Grant Beard later cracked a double to score Taylor and Jackson Baker. The Titans scored one run in the bottom of the fourth, making the score 3-1.

Beard batted in Baker with an RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth inning. Gibson Southern matched that with a run in the bottom of the sixth. The seventh inning went quickly, with neither team getting on base. Beard caught a pop out in left field to finish the game and give Guerin Catholic its first-ever semi-state title.

Canada also hit a double, giving him two hits on the night. Kail was 2-for-2 at the plate and Kail hit a double. Luke Gremelspacher got the pitching win, striking out two over four innings and allowing two hits. Harrison Haw pitched 1.1 innings in relief (one strikeout and one hit), then Coltyn Price got the save, with two strikeouts over 1.2 no-hit innings.

The Golden Eagles are 27-3-1 and play Andrean at 4:30 p.m. Friday for the 3A state championship.