First baseman Joel Pierce’s one-out single drove in the tie-breaking run in the top of the seventh, and Valor Christian scored twice more in the inning to take an 8-5 victory over Thompson Valley in the state Class 4A baseball tournament at Metro State on Saturday morning.
The win moved Valor Christian into the championship game against Evergreen. That was scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start, but after two lightning delays and then heavy rain, the decision was made to postpone the game until noon Sunday, still at Metro State.
Both teams have lost once in the double-elimination tournament.
To get to the championship game, the Eagles had to stage a comeback after falling behind early.
Thompson Valley scored three times in the first, with catcher Mike Berg driving in two with a double, to take the early lead.
Valor Christian got within 3-2 in the third on catcher Noah Kuzma’s two-run homer.
Then with the game knotted at 5-5, Valor Christian shortstop Austin Howell singled and Kuzma walked to open the seventh. After Luke Ziegler fouled out while attempting to sacrifice the runners over, Pierce’s single scored Howell to make it 6-5. After Calvin Schonebaum walked, and Brady Buehler struck out, Jonathan Boulaphinh’s double drove in the two insurance runs.
The championship game was on schedule to start on time when the first lightning delay was imposed, and it was downhill from there. Although the all-turf field at Metro State can absorb considerable rainfall, the lightning, heavy rainfall and miserable conditions led to the postponement, made virtually jointly between CHSAA officials at both the 5A tournament site at All-City Field and at the 4A site at Metro State.
They’ll try again Sunday.
