The Bay Area Christian Broncos (28-13) defeated Lake Country Christian 5-3 on Friday afternoon at the University of Texas-Arlington inside Clay Gould Ballpark to capture the program's second-straight State Championship. BACS has now won TAPPS Division III State Championships in 2021 and 2022.
"It is special the fact that we can be No. 1 in the state the entire year coming off a State Championship," BACS baseball coach Kyle Kennedy said. "Everybody is out to beat you. Our guys rose to the occasion, and we were able to win it again. Hats off to them for all that they did. It was a special season."
Adam Atwell was named the player of the game. He finished pitching 5 1/3 innings giving up one run. Atwell hit 3-for-3, one walk, scored a run in the State Championship game for the Broncos. Baylor-signee Jordan Medellin closed out the game for the Broncos on the mound.
There was drama as Lake Country Christian loaded the bases with one out and scored a run on a groundout to cut the lead down to two. With runners at the corners and two outs, Medellin was able induce a groundout to Atwell, who stepped on second base and end the game.
"Amazing, the best way to end our high school careers," Bay Area Christian senior Josh Flory said. "Couldn’t have asked for a better team to do it with. I felt this would happen right after we won last year."
The BACS roster carried a total of 10 seniors on it in 2022.
It was a class that was supposed to graduate at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, but with them advancing to the State Tournament and playing for the State Championship, they will graduate a day later. Now, they will walk the stage with two gold medals.
"For these seniors that helped build this place, I think for us to have sustainability for what we want to do in our program at Bay Area Christian these guys have helped," Kennedy said. "Not just help us go forward and win championships, it helps excel our program to make it a viable program here in League City for really good baseball to be played. Guys being able to go play DI, DII level in college, we're able to do that now.
"It's because of this group that has really helped sustain the program to where we are a viable option for baseball in the Houston-area."
The Broncos defeated Northland Christian 7-5 in the State Semifinal on Thursday night to advance to the State Championships.
This story will continue to be updated.
