COLUMBUS — In the Class AAA baseball championships Monday, the Columbus Blue Devils and Spalding Jaguars scored 33 runs as they split the first two games of their best-of-three series.
It was obvious Tuesday from the start of the clinching game that the pitching depth of both schools would be tested.
After another slugfest, the defending state champion Blue Devils proved too much on their home field, winning 19-9. It is the 11th baseball state championship for Columbus.
Spalding was attempting to win its first state title in any sport.
Jaguars coach Mickey Moody wouldn’t let 10 Columbus runs in the fourth inning ruin the season.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my kids for their accomplishments this year,” he said. “It was a great year for our team. The kids have bought in to being a good teammate and worked hard.”
The brightest offensive star of the game (and the 10-run outburst) was third baseman Pierce Ressmeyer. Ressmeyer hit a three-run home run, then came back to drive in another run with a single minutes later. He finished the day 4-for-4 with seven RBIs and three runs scored.
“Pierce carried us offensively,” said Columbus coach Bobby Howard.
When asked how it felt to have such big game in the championship, Ressmeyer responded with an understatement, “It felt good.” He preferred to compliment the combined effort of the team and toughness of the pitching staff.
“We came out here and competed,” Ressmeyer said. “We’ve got two great pitchers in Will [Solomon] and Kyle [Carter], and [game 3 starting pitcher] J.T. Phillips’ back is killing him. He gave everything he had, and that meant a lot to us.”
Solomon came on in relief of Phillips with one out in the top of the second. Solomon was far from perfect, but proved good enough. He pitched 4 1/3 innings to earn the victories in Mondayday’s second game and in the final.
Howard believes Solomon was getting by on more than just solid mechanics.
“He smelled it once we got the lead, and that’s what good pitchers do,” he said. “We found a way to win.”
