Lions fall in title game

By Michael Kinney
The Moore American

NORMAN May 21, 2008 12:58 pm

— It wasn’t their overpowering pitching, thunderous bats or even Owasso’s recent history of winning state titles that was Moore’s undoing Tuesday. When the Lions look back on the 2008 Class 6A state championship game, they will see it was the little things that ended their improbable ride.
In front of a capacity crowd at L. Dale Mitchell Park, the Lions committed enough baserunning and fielding errors to help the Rams send them home with a crushing 5-2 defeat.
“I can’t even explain the feeling,” Moore’s Kyle Wormington said. “It just sucks so much.”
Even though Owasso (38-3) was favored to win, Moore put a scare into the state’s top-ranked team.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Moore had runners on first and third with one out. Designated hitter Chris Brown hit into a fielder’s choice at second, which scored Dalton Hilliard to close the Lions to within one run.
However, the Rams loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning. Joe Spring hit into a possible double play, but the throw from shortstop Jeff Hinckley got past the first base and two more runs scored.
Owasso’s Brandon Bargas relived Brian Flynn in the bottom of the seventh and mowed down the Lions in order to secure the Rams’ 10th state title.
“Owasso is a great team,” Moore coach David Hinckley said. “We had some opportunities early with guys on base in places where we could score. We made a couple of mistakes on the bases. Gave them an opportunity where a run or two could make a big difference. Flynn then got into a rhythm in the middle part of the game. They have a great closer who came in and closed the deal.”
Moore (27-14) didn’t come all this way just to just earn respect. The Lions wanted to earn the program its first baseball state championship in school history.
“We didn’t come here just to come here,” Wormington said. “We came here to win.”
Early on it looked like the Lions might.
They struck first in the bottom of the first inning. With runners on first and second with one out, Dalton Hilliard hit a ground ball up the middle. The Rams went for the double play but were unable to get Hilliard at first. Romus Cezar kept running and was able to score from second and put Moore up 1-0.
Despite pitching three innings the night before, Wormington had complete control of the Ram lineup. The junior had a no-hitter going through three innings.
But in the fourth, Owasso’s bats showed life. A sacrifice bunt by Spring tied the game. Then a Jared Hunyerager RBI double and an error by Moore catcher Billy Balak conspired to put the Rams up 3-1.
That was enough for Owasso.
“We worked so hard throughout the whole season,” junior Chris Hinckley said. “It’s unbelievable. I thought for sure we would win. For it to be taken all away from me in one moment, it’s a little much.”