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And another: Miller baseball wins third straight state championship

Photo: Ryan Yemen

Matt Sykes was in the bullpen in each of the previous two seasons when Miller baseball won their last two VISAA Division 2 championships. He was the guy jumping onto the dog pile, not underneath it. This year was a little different. On the mound in relief to close out Highland with a healthy lead, Sykes watched as the Hawks hit a line drive to Mavericks first basemen Jack Marshall who had little trouble snagging it out of the air. And just like that, Sykes glove went into the air, he ran into catcher Nate Burton’s embrace and with a 10-5 victory official, the class of 2019 had its third straight championship and Sykes and Burton got to enjoy the fruits of being the center and quickly the bottom of the party.

 

“That feeling is indescribable,” Sykes said. “This year I got my opportunity and it was just amazing.”

 

The Mavericks came out like Friday night’s slugfest had never ended. Miller plated eight runners in the bottom of the first, sending 13 total batters to the plate and burdening Highland with a pitch count that makes a third game in a week a nightmare.

 

“This was a battle all week,” said Miller coach Billy Wagner. “Sometimes you’ve got be lucky rather than good and there were a lot times we got very lucky. But the guys they just keep grinding. We got that big inning, coming out and putting something on them like that’s tough. That was huge and it got the momentum on our side.”

 

The game’s defining rally saw both Jeremy Wagner and Ethan Chenault reach base to lead off after being hit by pitches. Wagner would draw first blood on a wild pitch. After a walk, Vince Deleonardo delivered the games first big hit with a 2-run double. Garrett Payne traded places with Deleonardo after he cranked an RBI double to left field. Then it was Jacob Exum’s turn and he came through with an RBI single to right. Laken Tignor followed that with an RBI double down the left field line. And after Jeremy Wagner singled, Chenault had a 2-run triple to cap off the 8-0 run. It was a fitting moment for Chenault after he had to watch Friday’s rally from the bench after a tough outing on the mound.

 

“Yesterday I was battling with some biceps issues and I did the best I could but it wasn’t enough,” Chenault said. “ It’s about moving the line. Our 1-through-9 is impressive. This year its been great. It’s a thing where we’ve known all year where there’s a target on our backs. Everybody in this lineup knows they have a role to do and they just do it. So it’s very nice when everyone does, the young guys too.”

 

After the 45-minute first, the focus shifted to Payne who got the start for the Mavericks. While Payne had to battle, he was able to get through five innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits and two walks but played behind his defense with the healthy lead.

 

“It was definitely a new part of the season with that heat,” Payne said. “You’ve just got to come out and battle and do everything you can to come out and play for your team. It feels unreal, I’m so happy for my teammates that we were able to come out here and get this win and prove to everyone just how hard we worked in the offseason.”

 

Highland picked up a trio on runs in the top of the fourth with an RBI groundout, an error, and an RBI single. Miller picked up two of those runs in the fourth and five with an RBI single from Chenault and then Exum reach on an error and scoring from third on a wild pitch respectively. That put things at 10-3 going into the sixth.

 

Highland was able to load the bases in the sixth and end Payne’s day and bring in Sykes. The senior worked out of the jam with just two runs on a passed ball and an RBI fielder’s choice. In the seventh, Sykes drew a trio of lineouts sandwiched between a pair of singles.

 

On the day, Chenault led the way going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Payne was 2-for-4 with an RBI. In an exhibition of its depth, nine of the 10 players to take an at bat for the Mavericks had at least one hit.

 

“We were on fumes this whole game,” Wagner said. “To win it’s really just amazing.”

 

Miller finishes the year 23-7 and scored 11, 15 and 11 runs in three playoff game this year. It returns the bulk of its lineup to go for a fourth straight title next year. The Mavericks have not lost a state playoff game since May 20, 2016. That sets the table for the Class of 2020 to try and put together a career perfect postseason resume.

 

“Honestly we don’t set out to win a state championship every year,” Wagner said. “Our real goal is to create kids that are going to go on to the next level and be competitive. We’ve just been fortunate that the kids have all bought into the process, early practices and a lot of time in the weight room and so now it’s all paid off.”     

 

 

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