OZARK — The Faulkner Sun Chiefs had to do it the hard way, but in the end the task was accomplished. Faulkner entered championship Thursday of the ACCC State Tournament needing to win only one game to win it all.
But when the Shelton State Buccaneers won the first game 8-5, that forced the “if” game for all the marbles.
Faulkner wasted little time breaking into the scoring column. The Sun Chiefs scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but it wasn’t easy. The lead
changed hands twice before Faulkner was finally able to hold on to a 7-6 victory and advance to the World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.
“This one feels really, really good,” a jubilant Faulkner head coach Wayne Larker said. “I’ve waited 28 years for this one. I owe this one to my players.”
When asked what made the difference in this tournament, Larker said, “It was our guys never-say-die attitude. We had to come from behind in a lot of games.
Even in the opening game of the tournament, we had to come from behind three times. I think we really gave the folks their money’s worth this week.”
The game was not without controversy. In the eighth inning, the Sun Chiefs had a 7-5 lead.
A run scored and Jim Bob Hutchinson walked to load the bases.
Corben Green then hit a hard grounder to the shortstop, who bobbled it before tossing it to second, forcing Hutchinson out on a close play for out three.
Hutchinson was ejected from the game for arguing the call and throwing his batting helmet.
The Shelton coaching staff argued the call for another 10 minutes, but there were no further ejections.
“This is a really good group of guys,” Larker said.
“Good things do happen to good people I am so proud of them. We’ve won championships in the past, but we’ve never gone to Colorado.”
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