CARY, N.C. - Orange Lutheran High School (Orange, Calif.) scored all nine of its runs in the final four innings and received clutch performances from Evan Adolphus and Cole Winn to repeat as the USA Baseball National High School Invitational (NHSI) champions, defeating Green Hope High School (Cary, N.C.), 9-3, on Saturday at Coleman Field.
Orange Lutheran (4-0) is the second school in NHSI history to repeat as champions (Mater Dei 2012, 2013) and the state of California has claimed six of the seven titles total.
"What a great day. What a great week. It has been a fun ride," said Orange Lutheran Head Coach, Eric Borba. "First off, hats off to Green Hope. They had an amazing week and put up a heck of a fight. We knew it wasn't going to be easy. I'll tell you what, those guys play the game the right way."
Both teams' pitchers struggled early, both allowing a leadoff walk on four-straight pitches to start the game but settled down to hold a 0-0 tie after three full innings.
With Jasiah Dixon on first base, Cole Winn roped an RBI-double to left field to plate the first run of the championship game in the top of the fourth inning. Max Rajcic was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat to put runners on first and second with one out and Adolphus followed with an RBI-single to left to score Winn. The Green Hope left fielder overthrew the third baseman on the same play and allowed Rajcic to cross the plate, extending the Lancers lead to 3-0. Orange Lutheran pushed its lead to five later that inning with two RBI-singles by Carl Lawson and Caleb Ricketts.
The Lancers picked up another run in the fifth inning after an early-break steal by Rajcic pulled the Falcons shortstop out of position and allowed Adolphus to pick up his second RBI with a single through the left side.
Green Hope would cut its deficit in half in the bottom half of the fifth, however; picking up its offense with three consecutive hits to start the inning, including an RBI-double by Johnny Ankner. With one out in the inning, Kevin Pitarra dropped in an RBI-single to left field to score Joseph Nunn, and Connor Knapp followed with an RBI fielder's choice that scored Ankner and put the Falcons within three.
But, Orange Lutheran's offense was too much for Green Hope to stymie. A two-RBI double by Winn in the ninth and Adolphus' third RBI-single of the day extended its lead back to six and the Lancers would celebrate winning its second straight NHSI championship.
"It was an awesome experience being here. USA Baseball does a tremendous job with this event. To be able to take home this trophy for the second year is an awesome feeling. I can't even describe it," Borba continued.
Adolphus and Winn led the charge offensively for the Lancers, tallying five of the team's nine hits and six of its RBIs. Knapp finished the day 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Falcons.
Lonnie Morris picked up the victory on the mound, giving up three earned runs and tallying two strikeouts in four innings. Elmo Arimurti was tagged with the loss for Green Hope.
Green Hope became the first-ever school from North Carolina to advance into the finals at the NHSI, in addition to being the only North Carolina school to ever advance past its opening game. The Falcons finished the tournament with a 3-1 record.
"We came up a little short. Obviously, it was a good week for us. We had to play probably near-perfect baseball today to beat these guys. They're obviously a really impressive team up and down their lineup," said Green Hope Head Coach, Mike Miragliuolo. "[Advancing to the finals] maybe puts things into perspective where some of the teams in North Carolina can say 'if they can do it, we can too'. So hopefully it keeps things moving forward [for North Carolina teams]."
The NHSI is presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and the Town of Cary. The event brings together sixteen of the top prep teams in the country to compete against each other in what has become the premier event on the high school baseball calendar.
