By PATRICK CASEY
The Freeport Bulldogs built a 4-0 lead and held on to defeat Jay 4-2 in the District 1, Class 2A baseball championship game.
Collin Myrick got all but the final out on the mound as teammate Michael Graziani came on to coax a pop-up for the win after the Royals loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Myrick was superb for the first six innings as he allowed only three hits and no runs while his defense backed him up with solid fielding in holding a four-run advantage. Myrick got the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning only to run into trouble. Jay’s Connor Weekes doubled and scored on Samuel James’ single to cut the lead to 4-1. Graziani took over for Myrick and was greeted with a double by Payden Roberts to cut the lead to 4-2. An infield single and a walk loaded the bases but Hunter Vaughn popped up to Myrick at shortstop to end the game and start the celebration for the Bulldogs.
Freeport got the lead in the first inning as three singles, a walk and a wild pitch plated two runs off of Jay starter Zach Gavin. The Bulldogs added a run in the third inning as J.R. Fannin singled in Caleb McCormick for a 3-0 lead and plated their final run in the top of the sixth inning when Austin Woodard doubled in Graziani, who reached on an error.
Woodard finished the game with three hits driving in one run and scoring another for the #4-seeded Bulldogs. Michael Graziani had two hits and scored two runs with Dakota Davis providing a pair of singles.
The Bulldogs committed two errors in the game but neither cost the team a run as the fielding was solid in all three games of the district tournament. Brandon Head caught a line drive to take a double away from Hunter Brown in the fourth inning with Davis gunning out Roberts in the first inning on his attempted steal of second base.
Freeport (13-10) coach Shaun Arntz was elated after the game at his squad bringing home the title in his first year as head coach with only three seniors on the current roster. “These guys played incredibly hard this week. We got some early runs and really put the pressure on the teams that were seeded above us. Graz throws a great game in the Northview win and Collin Myrick comes back on two days rest and was great for most of the night. It’s our first district title in baseball in more than 20 years and winning it in Jay is something none of us will ever forget.”
Freeport reached the championship game by winning a scintillating contest with Northview on April 26.
Senior pitcher Michael Graziani threw a complete game in picking up a 3-2 win that put the Bulldogs into the state playoffs and ended the Chiefs’ season….
Read the full story in the May 5, 2011 edition of the Herald Breeze.