ROUND ROCK, TX — Aledo capped a dominant postseason run with an emphatic 8–1 victory over Smithson Valley on Friday night at Dell Diamond, capturing the UIL 5A-Division I State Championship in convincing fashion.
With the win, Aledo (34–8) secured its second state title in program history and first since 2014, adding another chapter to a growing legacy under head coach Chad Barry.
The Bearcats controlled the game from the outset, leaning on timely hitting, sharp base-running, and a lockdown pitching performance to clinch their fourth overall appearance at the UIL State Tournament.
Junior designated hitter Lucas Nawrocki led the way offensively, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a triple—earning him the title of 5A-DI State Championship MVP.
Aledo wasted no time getting on the board, with Nawrocki driving in the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. Smithson Valley briefly responded in the bottom half, evening the score at 1–1 with an RBI single by Bryce Wells—the Rangers’ only run of the game.
From there, it was all Bearcats.
In a key second-inning sequence, senior catcher Brennon Evans stole second base as senior shortstop Nick Foster alertly dashed home on the play, showcasing the team’s aggressive base-running and awareness. Aledo tacked on two more runs in the fifth, with Nawrocki notching an RBI triple and senior outfielder Luke Trager adding an RBI single.
Junior Brooks Burdine tripled in a run in the sixth, and Aledo added three insurance runs in the seventh, capped by a two-run error following a single from Evans. By the time the final out was recorded, Aledo had scored in five of seven innings.
On the mound, senior right-hander Devin Miller delivered a complete game performance, allowing just one earned run and striking out two across seven efficient innings. Miller, along with Evans, Dylan Duran, Landon Barnes, and Foster, earned spots on the State All-Tournament team for their efforts.
Aledo's offense delivered in clutch moments, but it was the team’s total balance—steady pitching, clean defense, and consistent production up and down the lineup—that ultimately separated them from the rest of the field.
Now, with another trophy in hand and a core of underclassmen set to return—including MVP Nawrocki—the Bearcats have the look of a team built not just for this moment, but for many more to come.