State Championship: Pike Lib Baseball finishes state runner-up
Published 1:14 pm Tuesday, May 13, 2025
- Pike Lib finished state runner-up in baseball. (Josh Boutwell)
The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots saw their 2025 State Championship quest come to an end in a 2-1 loss to the Vincent Yellowjackets in game two of the Class 2A State Baseball Championship in Jacksonville.
Luke Barron struck out five batters against Vincent in the state championship. (Josh Boutwell)
After Pike lost 7-0 to Vincent in game one on Monday, it was win or go home for the Patriots on Tuesday and PLAS fought like it. Pike pitcher Luke Barron and Vincent’s Aiden Poe put on a clinic of stellar pitching and the two sides were tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the seventh.
Facing one out, Vincent had the tying run on second base when Landon Archer blasted a walk-off single into left field that drove Aiden Willis home for the winning run.
Cole Garrott led PLAS at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run, while Kade Brookins hit a double. Barron pitched six and 1/3 innings and struck out five batters, while giving up five hits and two earned runs.
Pike Lib teammates console one another after losing to Vincent in the state championship. (Josh Boutwell)
For Vincent, Casen Fields went 2-for-3 and drove in a run. Poe pitched all seven innings and struck out four batters, while giving up five hits and no earned runs.
While the season came to a frustrating finale for the Patriots, it was a historic one nonetheless. Pike made it to the State Championship for the first time in school history as a part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association, taking state runner-up for the first time, as well.
