Overlake senior Jaxon Fowler’s walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning dealt Meridian a 3-2 loss in its first 1A state championship game in 40 years on Saturday, May 25 at Joe Martin Stadium.
In a battle between two low-seeded teams, No. 8 Overlake (19-8) made one more play than No. 6 Meridian (19-8). Fowler’s hit to right field went just deep enough to score junior Zaden Gauthier from second base.
“That game could have gone either way tonight,” Meridian head coach Steve Slesk said. “That’s the way she goes.”
Meridian had one runner on in the top of the seventh, tied 2-2, before Trojans junior Jonah Aase hit a laser to center field that went right to Overlake junior shortstop Max Bieber. The Growls turned a double play as Meridian junior Ian Forbes tried to get back to first.
The next Trojans batter struck out to end the inning.
“If that ball’s a foot taller, it’s rolling to the frickin fence and scoring a run,” Slesk said. “That ball was blistered.”
Meridian left 11 total batters on base — including squandering three bases-loaded situations that could have completely changed the complexion of the game. The Trojans also had two errors, with one that led directly to a Growls score.
“We had our chances,” Slesk said. “We just couldn’t get it done. It’s baseball … we just did not play super clean. That’s the way it is, man.”
Fowler put Overlake on the board with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, scoring Bieber.
Meridian responded in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with a double, single and walk with one out before junior Tristan Wang grounded into a fielder’s choice — allowing senior Silas Berschauer to score and tie the game.
In the top of the fifth, Overlake freshman Andrew Kafchinski tried to steal second. Meridian senior catcher Ian Forbes tried to make the throw, but it hit freshman pitcher Nate Payne on the mound.
In the chaos, Gauthier, who finished the game 3-for-3 batting, scored to retake the lead.
Meridian evened things up again in the top of the sixth after a double from freshman Landon Rowley moved Wang into scoring position. Wang then scored on a wild pitch with freshman Pierce Brzozowski at the plate.
Two scoreless half-innings gave way to consecutive hits by Overlake in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.
Payne pitched six innings and allowed five hits, one earned run and four walks while striking out six. Aase went 2 for 4 at the plate for the Trojans — unable to pitch in the game after throwing 105 pitches in the semifinal win over Cedar Park Christian.
Meridian will graduate just four seniors ahead of next season. The Trojans had five freshmen on their roster this season.
“It’s hard to get back to the state title,” Slesk said. “But we’ll be back.”
Connor J. Benintendi is a former CDN sports reporter, send tips and information to newstips@cascadiadaily.com.