BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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ROUND ROCK – Junior Lucas Nawrocki tied a UIL Class 5A state record to lead Aledo past Smithson Valley 8-1 in the Class 5A Division 1 state championship game on Friday at Dell Diamond.
The Bearcats cap off their first championship season in 11 years with a 34-8 record.
Nawrocki was voted state champ MVP going 4 for 4 with one triple, two runs batted in, two runs scored and one stolen base. His four hits are tied for most in a 5A UIL state game. Prior to this season, those records included the semifinal round which was held at the same site. With the playoff split this spring, only the championship games were held at Dell Diamond.
Denny Webb is the only player to have five hits in a state game across all classes (Prosper, 1984).
Aledo won the 4A title, 4-0 over Victoria East in 2014.
The Bearcats also reached the final four in 1980 and 2015.
Luke Gladchuck scored on an RBI single from Nawrocki in the top of the first inning. After the Rangers tied the game, the Bearcats had a successful double steal to go in front 2-1 in the second.
After two scoreless innings, Aledo added a pair in the top of the fifth inning. The Bearcats had two triples in the inning – one lead off triple by Gladchuk. Two batters later, Gladchuk scored with a triple to left center from Nawrocki. After a pitching change, the Bearcats went up 4-1 on a single by Luke Trager that drove in Nawrocki.
Aledo starting pitcher – 6’4″ senior Cal State Fullerton signee Devin Miller pitched all seven innings with one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Smithson Valley led off the fifth with a hit by pitch and single, but Miller got out of the jam.
The Rangers loaded the bases with one out, but Aledo turned a double play.
The Bearcats got the force at second, but second baseman Landon Barnes was taken down on the slide and couldn’t get a good throw to first base. However, the umpire ruled interference to end the frame.
Brooks Burdine’s RBI triple in the sixth upped the lead to 5-1.
Miller followed by retiring the order in the bottom half of the inning. Three more Bearcats scored in the seventh. Barnes scored on a balk and Brennon Evans capped the night with a two-run single.
After a lead off walk in the bottom of the seventh, Miller got three straight grounders to close it out.
