Baylor Edges Ensworth, 9-6, for Div. 2 State Title

[bbb]

Josh Wicks scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter as Baylor defeated Ensworth, 9-6, for the Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association Division 2 state championship Sunday in Memphis.

 

Wicks’ goal gave Baylor a 7-6 lead and was followed by goals from Austin Cole and Isaac Garner.

 

Baylor led 5-2 at halftime, but Ensworth pulled even at 6-6 at 9:29 of the fourth quarter before Wicks’ goal.

 

The Red Raiders (17-2) also took home the individual awards along with the team trophy as Cole (2 goals) was selected as the most valuable offensive player of the final and goalkeeper Nick Russell (19 saves) was the outstanding defensive player.

 

Scoring leaders for Baylor, in addition to Cole, were Wicks (3 goals, 1 assist), Garner (1 goal) and Patrick Vaughn (1 goal, 1 assist).

 

Nichols Millard and Richmond Poindexter had six ground ball each.

 

Baylor will move to TSLA Division One next season.

 

Looking to 2011, fourth-year coach Jon Bloom, who re-started the Red Raider program in 2007 which had its beginnings in the early 1990s, has five returning starters.

 

Rising senior starters are Isaac Garner (attack), defenseman Matt Tidwell, and midfielder Austin Cole, along with rising junior Clay Oliver (long stick midfield) and rising sophomore Sean McGunigal (face-off specialist/midfield).

 

Bloom has a 37-24 record at Baylor and is 103-87 overall in 12 seasons at Webb (Bell Buckle) and Baylor.

 

Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

 

also posted on chattanoogan.com

[Treadstone]

Congratulations to both teams on great seasons and congratulations to Baylor on winning the championship. I was at the game, and it was surely a nail biter.

 

I was impressed by many things in the game, some being:

 

-Ensworth's face-off guy, number 2 Chaberski. He has the ability to pull the ball out quicker than any other F/O I have seen. He wasn't facing just any opponent either, as numbers 33 and 35 for Baylor are good face-off men.

 

-Wicks for Baylor was very impressive with both hands and put the icing on the cake towards the end.

 

-19 for Ensworth (Baker) impressed me alot as well. He started out slow (less than impressive defense and 2 crossbars in first half) but ended up burying a goal man-up and later clearing the ball, trucking through a defender, and scoring the game tying goal to make it 6-6 all over the course of 20 seconds.

 

-Number 11 for Baylor, not sure of his name, was very impressive. I don't know his stats for the game but I do know that he drew much attention from the Ensworth defense, creating openings for other players.

 

-Number 23 for Ensworth had two very nice goals coming around the crease.

 

-Both teams appear to be very well coached and show promising futures.

 

-With all that being said, I was a tad bit disappointed in the sportsmanship exhibited by Baylor. There were several unsportsmanlike calls, as well as many "f-words" screamed loud enough that the crowd could hear it. The one that got me the most was when defenseman number 4 for Baylor flipped off the referee to show his disgust with a call made. The refs didn't see it but myself and the ones sitting around me in the stands saw it. The game is not for sissies and I have no problem with foul language but to make it loud enough that the crowd can hear and SEE was a little much.

 

 

Anyway, congrats to Baylor on a fantastic season.

[seeingthefield]

-With all that being said, I was a tad bit disappointed in the sportsmanship exhibited by Baylor. There were several unsportsmanlike calls, as well as many "f-words" screamed loud enough that the crowd could hear it. The one that got me the most was when defenseman number 4 for Baylor flipped off the referee to show his disgust with a call made. The refs didn't see it but myself and the ones sitting around me in the stands saw it. The game is not for sissies and I have no problem with foul language but to make it loud enough that the crowd can hear and SEE was a little much.

 

 

Anyway, congrats to Baylor on a fantastic season.

 

Not trying to make excuses for some of the foul language used by some of the Baylor Players, but there was a tragedy that happened within the Baylor Community which the team found out about a couple hours before game time. It was most likely a very emotional game for the players (championship game, dealing with a loss, and dealing with some questionable officiating), these are kids that are only 14-18 years of age. Emotions get the best of people sometimes. Overall it was a well played game by both teams, also it was a great atmosphere - lots of fans, lots of noise.

[Treadstone]

I am sorry to hear about this. While I agree it doesn't warrant poor behavior, I empathize with them in that situation. Hope all is well, and congrats to them on winning with heavy hearts!