Union County Baseball became the official TSSAA Class 2A State Champs on May 26 with an 8-2 win over Milan at the Reese Smith Jr. Baseball Field in Murfreesboro. The game was tied until the 8th inning when Max Richardson hit several foul balls and finally forced a walk. Max’s “quality at bat” ignited the energy the Patriots needed to drive in six more runs and bring home the state title.
Coach Josh Orrick told one reporter that the team just peaked starting with the District 2-2A Championship win over Pigeon Forge. In perfect rhythm, the Patriots scored their winning run on Mr. Baseball himself, Dylan Loy, who is headed to the Vols. That win put their goal of winning the state championship into the realm of possibilities.
The whole team was elated over the fans who drove some three hours to support them. Fans came from all over to show how much they cared about not just baseball, but about young people achieving something they had worked so hard to gain. Everyone in Murfreesboro recognized the “sea of red” from Union County and others who just wanted to see this team make history.