A wild play to end the game sends Weatherford Christian to third straight baseball title

Not in a million years would you have thought a high school state baseball championship could end the way Wednesday’s game between Weatherford Christian and Shiner St. Paul did.

The Lions, winners of the past two TAPPS Division 5 state titles, were clinging on to a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh ... three outs away from a three-peat.

But St. Paul put its first two batters on and both advanced into scoring position.

Now the tying run was at third and a hit or sacrifice fly would’ve tied the game.

St. Paul’s Jackson Ulcak hit a 2-2 pitch off sophomore Rand Green and Weatherford Christian shortstop Clay Dukes made a falling catch around shallow left field to start a 6-4-2 walk-off triple play for the championship, 3-2, at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Off the bat, it almost looked like the ball would drop and send in the tying run, causing the runner at second to make his move. But Dukes caught it and threw it to second baseman Carter Guynes for the second out.

Then the runner at third made a mad sprint to home and Guynes, a freshman, threw a perfect ball to catcher Jaxon Foland for the final out.

“We always talk about how the baseball bounces funny sometimes,” Lions head coach Clegg Smith said. “It’s incredible. It’s a testament to the kids. I didn’t throw a pitch this season. I didn’t swing a bat.”

Smith started the program in 2019 with nine freshmen.

The Lions won that year. Then COVID canceled the tournament in 2020.

Weatherford Christian came back and won it last season.

“I’ve played with most of these guys since fourth grade, sixth grade and I’ve grown up with them. This was my last game. Best way to end it,” said senior Ethan Smith, who was one of those freshmen in 2019.

“We always end it some outstanding way and a triple play was like the best way.”

Added Clegg Smith, “They’re amazing kids. They do something everyday to amaze me. The kids at our school are so accepted and just so humble. New kids come in and are accepted right away. That’s the most special thing about Weatherford Christian.”

Weatherford Christian (25-4-3), which won Tuesday’s semifinal 7-5 over Fort Worth Covenant Classical, got off to a 1-0 start after the first inning. Foland drew a two-out walk and scored on Smith’s RBI triple.

Smith came in relief on Tuesday and pitched three innings, and started on Wednesday.

St. Paul tied the game in the third with its own RBI triple to right following a hit batter.

Foland walked again in the bottom half of the inning and Smith hit a hard liner that the right fielder dropped to bring in the go-ahead run. Sophomore Rand Green then hit an RBI single to center to give the Lions a 3-1 lead.

“It was a surreal play,” said Green, who was on the mound during the triple play. “It was crazy. I was kind of freaking out there. We just won. This sets the bar really high for my next two years.”

Smith’s younger brother, sophomore Wyatt came on in the fifth and an errant throw by the Lions helped pull the Cardinals within 3-2. Then Wyatt Smith had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth before striking out back-to-back batters to end the inning.

“I had the batter 3-2 and the bases loaded, and I knew I couldn’t walk him there or the game would tied,” Wyatt Smith said. “I just put everything I had into that pitch and made sure nobody scored.”

Green went 2 for 3 at the plate.

Ethan Smith allowed one run on four hits and struck out six in four innings.

Wyatt Smith struck out three in two innings.

“I’m glad I got to experience it with my brother. Not a lot of people get to experience that, win two state championships with your brother,” Wyatt Smith said. “I look up to him. He’s my mentor.”

Added Ethan, “No greater feeling. Just to play with him my senior year, and winning the way we did, it was amazing.”

This story was originally published May 18, 2022 at 12:39 PM.