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TOP OF THE LINE: Midway triumphs over Atascocita to claim 6A-D1 crown, first title since 2003
ROUND ROCK — The Midway Panthers ended a two-decade title drought in resounding fashion Saturday evening at Dell Diamond, defeating Atascocita 6-2 to claim the UIL 6A-Division I State Championship. It marks Midway’s second baseball state title in program history — and the first since 2003.
Fueled by a fast offensive start and a dominant bullpen performance from junior right-hander Brody Potts, the Panthers (33-8) took control early and never looked back.
“From day one, this group believed they could do something special,” said Midway head coach Eddie Cornblum. “They’ve worked for every bit of this. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Midway wasted no time setting the tone.
In the bottom of the first inning, Tyler Seith laced a 2-RBI single to open the scoring, and Canyon Martin followed with an RBI double to make it 3-0. Atascocita responded in the top of the second with a pair of runs — an RBI double by Kaleb Thomas and a run-scoring groundout from Nick Dykes — but that would be the last offense the Eagles would muster.
Enter Potts.
The junior was called in for relief during the second inning and silenced the Atascocita lineup the rest of the way. Potts notched four strikeouts en route to being named the 6A-Division I State Championship MVP.
Jr. RHP Brody Potts accepts the 6A-D1 State MVP AwardMatthew Ogle
And extend it they did.
Martin, who finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored, crossed home in the third inning on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 4-2. Midway added insurance in the sixth as Jack Goldstrich and TJ Woodson delivered back-to-back RBI singles, pushing the score to its final 6-2 margin.
Offensively, the Panthers showed depth throughout the lineup. Woodson went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Seith added a hit and two RBIs, and Dru Ohmstede collected two hits and a run scored. Goldstrich and senior second baseman David Litle each contributed with timely hits as well.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
The win caps off an impressive postseason run for Midway in what was their fifth overall trip to the UIL State Tournament. The 2025 squad now joins the 2003 team in the Panthers’ championship lore.
“It’s surreal,” said Martin, who was one of four Panthers — along with Woodson, Ohmstede, and Goldstrich — named to the State All-Tournament Team. “We knew what was at stake, and we just trusted each other to get it done.”
From the opening pitch to the final out, Midway played with the poise of a championship team. And now, with another trophy in hand and a roster full of returning talent, the Panthers are poised to make sure this title run isn’t just a one-time affair.
“This is for everyone who believed in us,” Cornblum added. “But more importantly, it’s for these kids. They earned every bit of this moment.”
GLORY ROAD: Aledo's high-octane lineup propels them to a 5A-D1 Championship against SV
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.
Junior DH Lucas Nawrocki accepts the 5A-D1 State MVP AwardAlex Hinson (VYPE)
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.