Clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the seventh inning, Okarche pitcher Luke Hill was three outs away from helping his team advance to the Class A state finals in baseball Friday at Shawnee High School.
Hill had not allowed a hit through six innings. And with a run on a passed ball scored by Wyatt Pinkerton in the bottom of the third inning, it looked like the Warriors might knock off the #1 Tushka Tigers.
Jett Mueggenborg had two hits in the game. Tushka did not have any hits through six innings but a single and a double helped the Tigers take the late lead.
The last at bat for the Tigers proved to be their best. In the top of the seventh, a single, two walks and a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases.
Tushka’s Tristan Gibson doubled to center field and drove in the winning two runs. Okarche bats went cold in the bottom of the seventh inning as senior Pinkerton struck out looking, dashing the hopes for a state championship in baseball to go with the basketball title for 2024.
The Warriors season ended 23-5 a game away from a chance for a championship.
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