Freeman rallied back from a late deficit to edge rival Mills Godwin in a hard-fought battle that determined the Colonial District champion.
The Rebels, who finished a sterling 19-1, fell behind early when the Eagles' Brandon Soden led off the game with a solo shot off of Freeman starter Mitchell Crowder. Freeman responded in the bottom of the inning, when Trent Young doubled home Jack Gerstenmaier from first, tying the game at one. The Eagles looked like they would re-take the lead in the top of the second, but left two men on after a bang-bang play at first ended the threat.
The 1-1 tie held up until the Freeman half of the fourth, when Connor Melhorn's bloop single fell just out of the reach of two Eagles, putting the Rebels on top by one. Godwin again responded immediately, as Soden's RBI single and an RBI groundout by Will Black made it 3-2 in favor of the Eagles going to the bottom of the 5th. Godwin starter David Parkinson continued to cruise, getting a 1-2-3 inning that literally took all of two minutes.
The Eagles missed an opportunity to extend their lead in the sixth. Godwin quickly put a couple of men on, but Crowder snuffed out the rally, ending the top of the inning with a big strikeout. That set the stage for Freeman's comeback.
Loading the bases with no outs, the Rebels had a chance to win it. With one gone, sophomore Ethan Payne crushed a ball to left field, reminiscent of his homer against James River a couple of weeks ago. Although this one didn't clear the fence, the long single scored two runs, putting Freeman back on top 4-3. Parkinson did an excellent job limiting the damage there.
Knowing that a win meant no one-game playoff and an automatic regional berth, Freeman could afford to use closer Miller Trevvett in the seventh. Trevvett came in and impressively got a 1-2-3 inning to end the game and clinch the Colonial championship for the Rebels. Godwin wound up with a very good 14-5 record (13-3 in the Colonial). Freeman's only loss of the season, district or otherwise, was a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Patrick Henry back on April 16. The Rebels later topped PH 5-0.
Freeman moves on to regionals. Godwin will have the opportunity to play its way there in next week's Colonial District tournament.
Click here for HIGHLIGHTS of this game!
MEG 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3
DSF 1 0 0 1 0 2 x 4
W: Mitchell Crowder
L: David Parkinson
SV: Miller Trevvett
The Rebels, who finished a sterling 19-1, fell behind early when the Eagles' Brandon Soden led off the game with a solo shot off of Freeman starter Mitchell Crowder. Freeman responded in the bottom of the inning, when Trent Young doubled home Jack Gerstenmaier from first, tying the game at one. The Eagles looked like they would re-take the lead in the top of the second, but left two men on after a bang-bang play at first ended the threat.
The 1-1 tie held up until the Freeman half of the fourth, when Connor Melhorn's bloop single fell just out of the reach of two Eagles, putting the Rebels on top by one. Godwin again responded immediately, as Soden's RBI single and an RBI groundout by Will Black made it 3-2 in favor of the Eagles going to the bottom of the 5th. Godwin starter David Parkinson continued to cruise, getting a 1-2-3 inning that literally took all of two minutes.
The Eagles missed an opportunity to extend their lead in the sixth. Godwin quickly put a couple of men on, but Crowder snuffed out the rally, ending the top of the inning with a big strikeout. That set the stage for Freeman's comeback.
Loading the bases with no outs, the Rebels had a chance to win it. With one gone, sophomore Ethan Payne crushed a ball to left field, reminiscent of his homer against James River a couple of weeks ago. Although this one didn't clear the fence, the long single scored two runs, putting Freeman back on top 4-3. Parkinson did an excellent job limiting the damage there.
Knowing that a win meant no one-game playoff and an automatic regional berth, Freeman could afford to use closer Miller Trevvett in the seventh. Trevvett came in and impressively got a 1-2-3 inning to end the game and clinch the Colonial championship for the Rebels. Godwin wound up with a very good 14-5 record (13-3 in the Colonial). Freeman's only loss of the season, district or otherwise, was a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Patrick Henry back on April 16. The Rebels later topped PH 5-0.
Freeman moves on to regionals. Godwin will have the opportunity to play its way there in next week's Colonial District tournament.
Click here for HIGHLIGHTS of this game!
MEG 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3
DSF 1 0 0 1 0 2 x 4
W: Mitchell Crowder
L: David Parkinson
SV: Miller Trevvett
