Columbia Academy baseball weathers Vanderbilt signee, beats Loretto in 12th for Class A title

Tom Kreager
The Tennessean
Columbia Academy's Matthew Petzelt is lifted by a coach as they celebrate after defeating Loretto 1-0 in 12 innings in the Class A baseball state championship game.

MURFREESBORO — Richie Estep stood a few feet from the dugout Friday afternoon, ice water dripping down his back after it had been poured over his head.

The Columbia Academy coach welcomed it with open arms following a 1-0, 12-inning win over Loretto in the TSSAA's Class A baseball state championship game on the final day of Spring Fling.

"It felt good," said Estep, who was a member of Columbia Academy's 1991 state runner-up team. "I knew it was probably coming. I've been washed before.

"I welcomed that. It felt good."

Estep won four state titles at Goodpasture before leaving for his alma mater four years ago.

The Bulldogs (31-9) weathered Vanderbilt baseball signee Ryan Weathers for nine innings before the likely first-round draft pick left after throwing 104 pitches. Weathers struck out 11, walked one and gave up five hits.

Loretto pitcher Ryan Weathers throws to a batter during a 2018 TSSAA State Championships Class A baseball game against Columbia Academy Friday, May 25, 2018 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

"It was hard (leaving the mound)," Weathers said. "I kind of got in a groove out there. It's hard in a state championship game in my last game for Loretto to have to come out."

Weathers (11-0) finished the season with 135 strikeouts and walked eight. He gave up one earned run in 69⅓ innings for the Mustangs (34-4).

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Columbia Academy's William Huey's double drove in Blake Kinkcaid off reliever Jacob Hallmark in the top of the 12th inning.

"This is what we've worked for since we started Feb. 1," Huey said. "We did two-a-days then just for this reason. And it feels good."

Columbia Academy players celebrate after defeating Loretto 1-0 in 12 innings during a 2018 TSSAA State Championships Class A baseball game Friday, May 25, 2018 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

It came an inning after the Bulldogs survived a Loretto scoring opportunity.

But a suicide squeeze with runners on second third went awry when Jason Sharpton couldn't get his bat on a pitchout. Jake Jackson was put out on the rundown at third and Jacob Hallmark was tagged out after taking his foot off of third.

"They had a little pitchout and our guy couldn't get to it," Loretto coach Gary Lamm said. "Our guy (on third) was supposed to come back, and he didn't. He got hung up.

"He took himself off of the base and got a double play."

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 and tkreager@tennessean.com or on Twitter @kreager.