Calvary Christian falls just shy in final game of series
The Calvary Christian Knights battled for seven innings Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough as Fullington Academy scratched out two unearned runs for a 2-1 win in the deciding game of the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association Division I state championship series.
"I felt like we hit the ball well, but we just weren't able to push one across when we needed it," Calvary coach Steve Smith said. "We battled, but (Fullington) is a tough team over there."
Missed opportunities were a recurring theme for the Knights (24-7). They left two runners on base in three of the first four innings, but it was in the bottom of the sixth where it hurt the most. With Fullington holding a 2-0 lead, Tyler Hostilo led off the inning with a shot that bounced off the fence in right-center field, but he was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double.
Later in the inning, Kyle Masse singled to bring home Nick Baker and trim the deficit to 2-1, but Jason Whearley, who'd been on first when Masse singled, was thrown out trying to move from second to third when the ball got away from a Fullington infielder.
Those two outs proved to be big when Chris Wright singled and then a wild pitch occurred, which would've brought home a tying run and given the Knights the opportunity to take the lead. Instead, following the wild pitch, Calvary was trailing, 2-1, with runners on second and third with two outs. A groundout ended the inning and kept the Trojans ahead by one run.
In the seventh, Calvary got a leadoff walk, but a pair of fielder's choices and a flyout ended the game and gave the Trojans the state title. Fullington (17-8) got a complete-game six-hitter from Ty Tyndal, who didn't pitch in the first two games of the series Thursday. Tyndal allowed more than one hit in just one inning and struck out three while walking three and hitting two batters.
"Today, (Tyndal) got locked in and just threw a gem out there," Fullington coach Jason Hurst said. "More than how he did physically was how much heart he displayed. He may not have had the kind of regular season he wanted, but to come in here in a Game 3 and pitch pretty much lights out is amazing."
Fullington got its first run in the top of the second when Sam Evans drew a leadoff walk before being replaced by courtesy runner Lane Mitcham. Mitcham went to second on an errant pickoff throw by Calvary starter Jackson Sellers, got to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a groundout by Austin McKinney.
Sellers, who started Game 2 for the Knights on Thursday, pitched five solid innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits with a strikeout and a walk before leaving due to a GICAA rule that limits pitchers to 10 innings in a three-game series.
"(Sellers) threw five great innings on one day's rest," Smith said. "We just came up a little bit short for him, that's all."
The Trojans added a second unearned run in the sixth off Calvary reliever Cody Russell. Will Mashburn reached on a fielder's choice, moved to third on a single by Tyndal and came home on a passed ball to give Fullington a 2-0 advantage.
"We've been a team that's relied on pitching and defense all year," said Hurst, whose team was outhit by Calvary, 6-3. "That's the kind of baseball we've had to play all year and can win with. It's just a different style than a lot of people are used to. The San Francisco Giants have won two World Series playing this kind of baseball."
Calvary was able to get back to within 2-1 in the sixth, but were unable to finish off the rally, leaving the Knights shaking their heads after the game, wondering what might have been.
"I told the guys not to lose sight that they had a tremendous year," Smith said. "Last year, we advanced to the final four and this year, we came within one win of a state championship. I fully expect us to be back here next year."
Whearley was 2-for-2 with a walk for Calvary and Sellers was saddled with the loss despite his five good innings of work on the mound. Tyndal had two of the Trojans' three hits, finishing up 2-for-3.
Saturday at Calvary Christian
Fullington 010 001 0--2 3 1
Calvary 000 001 0--1 6 1
WP--Ty Tyndal. LP--Jackson Sellers. Leading hitters--Fullington Academy: Braden Shealy 1-for-3, 2B, Ty Tyndal 2-for-3. Calvary Christian: Jason Whearley 2-for-2. Records: Fullington Academy 17-8, Calvary Christian 24-7.
This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 6:26 PM.