Westminster wins first Class 3A title in school history

June 5, 2011

By Mike Rosenbaum

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. ? Winning a state title is always a special moment for any player, coach and team. But when it happens to be the first in school history, it inevitably holds an indescribable significance.

After their 6-3 win over Savannah on Saturday evening to capture the Class 3A title, Westminster head coach Rich Van Gilst and his squad can now attest to it.

?It feels great and I?m happy for these guys,? he said. ?At the beginning of the year they set out with this goal to be here. And even though we were ranked No. 1 from the get-go, we never talked about it. So it?s nice to see the team finish it.?

There was no single player who carried the team on Saturday. Instead, each player quietly did their part, as they?ve done all year, exemplifying the importance of a ?team win? on the grandest of stages.

The Wildcats scored the game?s first runs in the bottom of the second, after Conner Einertson and Luke Turner hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. With one out, freshman Shane Benes drove in Einertson with a single, while Turner would ultimately score on a two-out infield error by Savannah.

But the Savannah offense got the two runs right back in the top of the third. After Andy Meyers and Blake McFadden both singled to start the inning, Brett Smith drove in the Savages? first run of the game on a groundout to first. The next batter, Andrew Stagner, came through with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

Westminster re-took the lead in the home half of the inning, when Tate Matheny singled, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and finally scored on another Savannah infield error.

The following inning unfolded in a similar manner, as Benes worked a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Andrew Beck. With two outs, the Savannah infield committed their fourth error of the game, which ultimately allowed Benes to score and gave the Wildcats a 4-2 lead.

It looked as though Savannah might reclaim the lead in the top of the fifth after McFadden reached on an infield error and later scored on Andrew Stagner?s single. With only one out and the bases loaded, Van Gilst called upon Alec Mitchell to replace Ben Lovell and hopefully limit the damage to just the one run.

?I?m getting these guys out,? said Mitchell regarding his mindset as he took the mound with a bases loaded jam and the go-ahead run on second base. ?I?d already won the game in my head and I knew I had to execute, and that?s what I did.?

Despite pitching two scoreless innings to seal the victory against Kennett on Friday night, Mitchell showed no signs of fatigue or nervousness on Saturday. Rather, the 6-foot-2 senior toed the rubber with confidence, as if he?d been preparing for the situation his entire life.

The right-hander proceeded to retire each of the eight hitters he faced on Saturday, as well as all 14 that he faced this weekend, and recorded his third save of the season.

The Wildcats capitalized on the shift in momentum by tacking on one run in both the fifth and sixth innings, with Mitchell helping his own cause with an RBI double.

When the final out off the bat of Andrew Stagner came down in center fielder Tate Matheny?s glove, Westminster players, coaches, fans and parents collectively exhaled.

?Since May 27 at about nine-o-clock last year when we lost to Winfield, I thought to myself, ?we?re going to win state next year.? Every single one of my teammates worked their butts off and now that we?re here?it feels amazing,? Mitchell said while reflecting on the season.

Lovell (9-1) picked up a win after allowing two runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander exhibited excellent control in the most important start of his young career, as he struck out five without issuing a walk.

?He?s a sophomore and I thought he did a good job for being a pressure game like this,? mentioned Van Gilst after the game. ?He got us to where we felt comfortable going with Mitchell and it worked out.?

The Wildcat offense was led by Einertson, who culminated an excellent junior season by going 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Mitchell and Benes both collected a hit and drove in a run, while Turner, Andrew Beck and Matheny all tallied a hit and scored a run in the contest.

?Our guys battled and scored in every inning but the first,? said Van Gilst about his offense. ?I understand that we had some help, but we had to put the ball in play in order to force the errors.?

Stagner did his best to pitch around the errors behind him, but was ultimately saddled with the loss. The 6-foot-2 southpaw gave up only two earned runs on seven hits over five innings on Saturday, while fanning six and issuing only one walk. He also was 2-for-4 with two RBI at the plate.

Blake McFadden was 1-for-4 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot for Savannah.