PUEBLO – This game was in dire need of a hero and Forge Christian’s Jake Stocker obliged.
The freshman smashed a single up the middle, powering the Fury to a 3-2 victory over Monte Vista in the bottom of the 11th inning in the Class 2A state semifinal game Saturday at Hobbs Field on the Runyon Field Sports Complex.
“This feels great,” Stocker said. “The team worked hard the whole game and I’m glad we pulled it out. I got a two-strike fastball, and I was sitting on the fastball and I got the pitch I wanted. Everyone did their job and I’m excited to get to play for a state championship.”
Forge Christian upped its record to 26-2 and has a chance to win its second state title in a row. With its performance, the Fury advanced to the state championship game at 10 a.m., May 30 at Hobbs Field.
Forge Christian will await the winner of the elimination bracket on May 29 at Runyon Field in the eight-team double-elimination tournament to see which team it will play in the finals.
In the bottom of the 11th, FC’s Ivan Murphy began things by swatting a single to left. A sacrifice bunt by Owen Carlson moved Murphy to second, setting the stage for Stocker.
With the spotlight and sunshine glaring on him, Stocker sent a 1-2 pitch from reliever Manny Jiron up the middle. Murphy raced home and just beat throw from center fielder Kobe Jiron. Murphy slid head first past the attempted tag by catcher Chayse Bouet to set off the celebration.
“We were just relentless in putting pressure on them,” Forge coach Jim Polson said. “We have a lot of belief in what we do. It’s tough to execute. That’s a good team over there. They weren’t going to give us anything. We had to earn it. It is good for us to have a game like that and we came out on top.”
This game was a defensive battle from the onset.
In the top of fourth, Monte’s Razz Hurtado drew a two-out walk and stole second and then Manny Jiron proceeded to single to left and score Hurtado to give Monte the 1-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Forge starting pitcher Ben Harhager was taken out with one out and a runner on first. He threw 60 pitches, gave up two earned runs, two hits, struck out four and walked three.
Ben McLean came in relief and faced fellow hurler Juda Howe with two outs. Howe helped himself by smacking an RBI-single to put the Pirates up 2-0.
Forge mounted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh as Carsen Hughes led off with a double down the left field line. Then, Jonah Boykin drew a walk.
With runners on first and second, FC’s Murphy came to the plate and when he struck at a pitch from Howe, the Fury base runners sprinted to second and third.
Howe came up clutch, fanning Murphy. Moments later, however, Hughes scored on a wild pitch, but then Boykin got caught in a rundown after Hughes scored and was tagged out.
Owen Carlson kept Forge alive with a single to center field. Adin Murphy entered the game as a pinch runner for Carlson. Stocker was at the plate and on the first pitch from Howe, Murphy stole second and a pitch later Murphy swiped third.
Stocker drew a walk bringing up Harhager with runners on first and second. Howe threw a ball to Harhager and was then lifted from the game for relief pitcher Hensley after his 109th pitch.
Howe threw 6.2 innings, gave up 4 hits, two earned runs, struck out five and walked three.
Hensley’s first pitch was a ball, putting the count at 2-0 on Harhager, but then he responded with back-to-back strikes. Hensley then uncorked a wild pitch to score Murphy to tie the game.
Hensley struck out Harhager, and the game moved into extra innings.
FC’s McLean kept giving the Fury a chance to win as he retired the Pirates in order in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings.
McLean allowed just one hit, struck out eight and walked one in six innings of work.
“I knew I was going to pitch sometime this weekend, and I was going to come and slam the door,” the senior McLean said. “I was trusting my fastball. It felt really good. It was just awesome when Jake (Stocker) got that hit. He has been a huge part of this team. He handles the pressure really well. It was his moment and he did awesome.
“We are going to go back to the lab this week and work on our offense and we will have fresh arms on the mound and be ready to go next weekend.”
