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

Not in a million years, you would’ve thought a high school state baseball championship would 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, was 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 sac fly would’ve tied the game.

St. Paul’s Jackson Ulcak hit a 2-2 pitch of 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.

Weatherford Christian defeated Shiner St. Paul 3-2 in the TAPPS D5 state title on Wednesday May 18, 2022 at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington.
Weatherford Christian defeated Shiner St. Paul 3-2 in the TAPPS D5 state title on Wednesday May 18, 2022 at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington.

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 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. 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.”

Weatherford Christian defeated Shiner St. Paul 3-2 in the TAPPS D5 state title on Wednesday May 18, 2022 at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington.
Weatherford Christian defeated Shiner St. Paul 3-2 in the TAPPS D5 state title on Wednesday May 18, 2022 at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington.

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 by pitch.

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.

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. The Wyatt Smith had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth before striking out back-to-back batters to end the inning.

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.