ROUND ROCK, Texas — A historic outing from starter Aiden Shank kept Gordon within striking distance, but the Longhorns couldn’t capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities in a 2-0 loss to Groveton Centerville in the UIL Class 1A state baseball championship game on Saturday, June 6, at Dell Diamond.
Gordon, making its second consecutive appearance in the state title game, stranded runners in multiple innings and managed just three hits against Centerville pitcher Kolt Larsen.
Shank, who left the game in the sixth when he hit his pitch limit, tied the UIL Class 1A state record with 10 strikeouts after tossing 110 pitches in 5⅔ innings, before it was eclipsed by Larsen later in the game.
“I think it starts in the dugout and us letting our focus be on Jesus,” Shank said. “Matthew 6:33 says to seek first the kingdom of God. That’s what I try to encourage everybody to do, especially these younger guys coming back. Allow Jesus to be the main focus, love each other and trust each other because we are capable of winning and doing great things.”
Shank’s biggest escape came in the fifth when he stranded the bases loaded after Centerville put three runners on with nobody out.
Larsen also worked out of multiple jams after Gordon put runners on with no outs. Larsen helped preserve the shutout as Centerville captured its first state baseball championship in program history in its first appearance in the title game.
The Longhorns continued to threaten, but were unable to deliver the timely hits needed against Larsen, who finished his complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts breaking the record Shank set earlier in the contest.
Larsen was also recognized as the MVP of the state championship game.
“To be able to do it with my friends that I’ve grown up with, basically, just to be here again, it kind of felt like home,” Shank said. “Last year, it felt like a foreign place, but this year it felt like home. It’s just been such a blessing.”
The loss ends another deep playoff run for Gordon, which finished the season 23-5 after reaching the state championship game for the second straight year.
Centerville finishes its championship season with a 24-1 record.
“If you’re a baseball fan, a baseball coach or have any close ties to baseball, you know how hard it is just to get here in the first place,” Gordon baseball coach Ligon West said. “I’m super proud of our guys for getting back here. We didn’t win it like we set the goal to, but I’m super proud of our kids and the way they competed. I’m super proud of the young men they are. I can’t say enough about what our seniors mean to this program and how much we’re going to miss them.”
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Gordon baseball falls short in return to state championship game
Reporting by Rey Castillo, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Rey Castillo, Corpus Christi Caller Times | USA TODAY Network
