Marvin Ridge returns to the pinnacle, bests Holly Springs in 7A baseball

BURLINGTON, N.C. — A decade-long wait has ended. Marvin Ridge baseball is a champion once again.

For the first time since going back-to-back in 2015 and 2016, the Mavericks have climbed the ladder of North Carolina baseball.

On Saturday, Marvin Ridge (24-11) defeated Holly Springs (26-7), 6-2, in Game 3 to complete the series comeback at Burlington Athletic Stadium after dropping Game 1 on Friday. This is the third all-time title for the Mavericks, who made their fourth appearance in the final series.

"I don't really have words to express the gratitude I have for our players," Marvin Ridge head coach Trey Putnam said. "The coaches and all the time and effort they put into this and having a great administration that supports us and gives us everything that we need. I was set up for success this year and those dudes earned everything they got."

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Sophomore first baseman Alex Hampton was named the MVP of the series. His defensive heroics in Game 2 really helped set the tone on Saturday.

"It means everything," Hampton said about winning MVP. "You know, just all the work I put in over winter and with all my teammates to help me out with this."

After starting the season 0-3, Marvin Ridge has put together quite the campaign during its postseason run. Even with double-digit losses on their resume, the fifth-seeded Mavericks didn’t back down. They went toe-to-toe with some of the state’s best teams and won.

"Just keep putting the work in," Putnam said. "You just keep having the belief and and this group has had more belief all year than I could have asked for. They've never doubted themselves."

The Mavericks topped (2) Hickory Ridge in the 7A West Regional Final in three games. It won Game 1, 7-1, before dropping Game 2, 2-0. The Mavericks sealed the series with a Game 3 win: 4-0. Then, in the championship the Mavs lost 3-1 in Game 1 before rallying to win Games 2 and 3 on Saturday.

"Stay alive or you're gone," Hampton said about his mentality after the Game 1 loss. "So, just do everything for my team I can to stay alive."

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Saturday's final contest began as a defensive game of endurance. With two seniors on the mound --- Anthony Zezza for Holly Springs and Jackson Mazur for Marvin Ridge --- opportunities were scarce, especially with the efficiency of the defense behind the pitchers.

After seven zeros to start the night, Holly Springs senior Noah Rhoades offered the game's first substantial offense in the bottom of the fourth. Rhoades doubled deep toward the wall to score junior Connor Hourihan.

That 1-0 lead didn't last long. Hampton hit a leadoff single in the fifth for Marvin Ridge. He was picked off on the next hit by Dylan Poling, but, MRHS kept the hits going as Austin Martinez and Alex Culicerto both singled --- the latter of which was an RBI to tie it, 1-1.

Late in the inning, Marvin Ridge's Mike Feeley was walked to load the bases with two outs. Zezza walked Dean Larkin to hand the Mavericks a 2-1 advantage. That prompted a pitching change by the Hawks, which opted to put junior Brennan McKenna in. He secured the final strikeout needed to exit the frame.

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In the top of the sixth, an error by Holly Springs proved costly. With two already on base, a run scored to make it 3-1 and gave the Mavericks corners with no outs. McKenna walked another to load the bases and the Golden Hawks decided to make its second pitching change of the night. Junior Bryce George entered with a tall task at hand.

Marvin Ridge had the bases loaded with no outs while leading a winner-takes-all state championship game.

"They competed well all day," Putnam said about his team. "There was never any there was never any doubt in their mind. And that that just speaks to kind of who they are as a group."

That mentality helped the Mavericks overcome each new pitcher they saw.

George struck out his first opponent, but on the next at-bat, MRHS' Levi Kerr hit a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 4-1. Still, Holly Springs did a good job of mitigating damages by picking off a steal attempt at second to end the frame.

Even with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Holly Springs started to make things interesting. The team's top batter Hodge Williams doubled to set the stage, then Hourihan tripled to score him. That made it 4-2 with a runner in position. However, MRHS turned a ground out to get out of the situation.

Marvin Ridge found some insurance in the seventh as Holly Springs walked bases loaded. A passed ball allowed one run in. Another crossed home on a ground out at first, making it 6-2. Two more Mavericks sauntered to first on walks.

With the game in danger of completely slipping out of reach, Holly Springs brought out its fourth pitcher of the evening with senior Luke Nakhla. On the next at-bat, the Golden Hawks escaped with a double play.

Just like that, Holly Springs was down to its final three outs down 6-2.

That lead held through the bottom of the seventh for the Mavericks, which claimed both of its wins on Saturday by the same exact score.

Maybe 62 is a lucky number in Waxhaw.

Box Score

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