South Walton Falls In State Final, Ends Season #2 In Class 4A

Frank Wells tallied the lone run for the Seahawks, in the Class 4A title game.

If a team does not win the state championship it means the season ends in defeat in the final game of the year. But it is an entirely different perspective when that loss comes in that coveted title game, as was the case for the South Walton Seahawks on Wednesday.

The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs rode a big second inning to claim the Class 4A state championship with a 4-1 victory over the Seahawks, in the final action of the 2024 state tournament. Gibbons (25-4-2) scored all four runs in the second inning, and then held off South Walton’s best comeback efforts to earn its second state title in program history.

The Seahawks (21-11) played in the state final for the first time in school history. The team overcame a shaky start to play its best baseball down the stretch and make a historic playoff run.

“Early on, we had some tough games where we didn’t execute offensively. We’d been on a hot streak, but their pitcher changed speeds tonight and he executed his pitches and had us off-balance,” South Walton Manager Nick Borthwick said. “I hate to have that happen to us in our last game, but, at the end of the night, I’m proud of my guys. They fought. They didn’t have their best game, but I’ll go to battle with them any day.”

Brenden Trujillo delivered a gem to lead the Chiefs to victory. The junior right-hander went the distance on the mound, striking out seven while allowing just three hits and three walks.

“If you would have told me that Brenden would have pitched a complete game today, I would have said that wasn’t even in the game plan,” Gibbons Manager Jason Hamilton said. “He was terrible in the bullpen. Then he went out and flipped the switch when the game started. We were going inning by inning with him, and he just kept getting stronger as the game went on. It all starts on the mound, and he was phenomenal today.”

South Walton’s Declan Fowler bats during the Class 4A state championship. Fowler was 0-for-2 with a walk.

The second inning proved to be the difference in the tight, low-scoring battle. Bryce Faison drew a lead-off walk, and George Stringos and Victor Norori both singled to load the bases, which put Faison into scoring position to then come home for the game’s first run off a passed ball. A wild pitch allowed Stringos to also score, and Norori then came in on an infield RBI ground out from Eddie Marshall. Jason Vazquez then kept it going with an RBI single to left that plated courtesy-runner Randy Petron.

That score then held up throughout the innings that followed. Trujillo mixed his pitches and kept the Seahawks at bay, holding them off the scoreboard until the final outs in the top of the seventh. After finding ways to overcome anything all season long, South Walton never stopped believing that it had one last rally left in them.

“This one game doesn’t define the adversity and the battle that they showed this season,” Coach Borthwick said. “They really competed, from start to finish. At the end of the year, I’m proud of what we achieved. But we’ve got to execute in that big game, under pressure. That’s what we’ll be working for, and we’ll keep working.”

South Walton kept working even despite being down to its final three outs. Frank Wells reached on an error that put him into scoring position to lead off the seventh, and his teammates did their job to push him along the rest of the way. Charlie Wilcox got the ball on the ground to the right side to push Wells to third base with a ground out to first base, and Hudson Mandel followed with an RBI ground out to the shortstop.

The shutout now over, the Seahawks kept plugging away. Braxton Varnes worked the count to draw a walk that kept things going. But Trujillo dug deep and responded with a strikeout to record the final out on the game, and the 2024 baseball season.

The Seahawks battled to the very end, rallying for a run in the seventh while still fighting for the one last comeback rally.

Regardless of the final result, the game marked the final hurrah for this group of special players. Goodbyes are always easier when they come during celebration, but the defeat does not change the narrative of what the 2024 South Walton Seahawks achieved. These players set a high standard for what can be accomplished, and Coach Borthwick will never forget the joy it was to coach them all – especially his son, Coleman.

“I just told them that I love them and I am proud of them. I told all of them that I’ll never forget this run, this magical ride,” Coach Borthwick said. “They don’t have to like the outcome. Sometimes life throws you a curveball and you don’t like it. You have to just keep battling. You’ve got to dust yourself off and get back up. These guys are special. It is a special group and I will never forget this group. It is special coaching your own kid, and I love him to death. I’m proud of him.”

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