Salado Eagles beat Grape Creek High School 11-0 on June 4 2008 and Corsicana Mildred High School 12-8 on June 5, 2008 to win the University Interscholastic League (UIL) 2A State Baseball Championship at Dell Diamond. Catcher and relief pitcher Justin Schiller was given the Tournament Most Valuable Player award for his work behind the plate, on the pitcher’s mound and at the plate. Four other Salado Eagles were named to the All Tournament Team: Kevin Jackson, pitcher; Matt Fritsch, third baseman; Johnny Nix, short stop and Garret Ward, outfielder. The Eagles are (front row, from left): Hunter Ward, Colton Norman, Taylor Rudduck, Johnny Nix, Tyler Wright, Josh Rodriguez; (middle row, from left) Tyler Coker, Matt Ming, Clayton Whitmire, Justin Berumen, Cole Calder, Matt Fritsch, Justin Schiller; (back row, from left) Coach Richard Berumen, Coach Barry Kemper, Josh Coleman, Colin Smith, Kevin Jackson, Blake Heller, Sam VanHoozer, Garret Ward, Seth Collins, and Head Baseball Coach Melvin Bates.
Double plays lead to Salado Eagles State Championship title
With runners on all bases and no outs, Salado senior Matt Fritsch came in to close the game June 5 against Corsicana Mildred, striking out two batters, and securing the Salado Eagles’ first-ever State Championship in baseball June 5 at Dell Diamond. Kevin Jackson fielded Cory Roper’s grounder and tossed the runner out at second to secure the win for Salado, 12-8.
The Eagles held a commanding 12-4 lead with Justin Schiller pitching part of the fourth inning, the fifth and sixth innings and part of the seventh inning.
Schiller shut down Mildred in the fifth inning and helped to add three runs during their side of the frame to stretch their lead to 11-4.
Justin Schiller came in to relieve Sam Van Hoozer and allowed no runs in the fifth or sixth innings. In the bottom of the fourth, he hit the ball to the warning track for a triple, driving in one run. He then drove in two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a single, which he tried to stretch into a double, being tagged out at second base.
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