The Glenbrook Apaches won the District 1-1A championship with a doubleheader sweep of Cedar Creek Thursday at Glenbrook.
Glenbrook won the first game 3-2 in eight innings and the second 6-3. The Apaches bounced back after falling 11-1 in the first of the three-game series Wednesday.
Glenbrook has won the district championship every year since joining the LHSAA in 2021-22. It’s the first title for Holden Orgeron as Glenbrook’s head coach.
“What. A. Night,” Orgeron wrote in an email message. “I couldn’t be more proud of the fight the boys had. Winning district was a huge confidence builder for us. The community showed up for us and I’m glad we could put on a show for them.
“I truly couldn’t be more proud of this team and community. I’m so proud to represent Glenbrook.”
The Apaches got outstanding pitching performances in both games Thursday.
Brayden Watkins allowed three hits, struck out five and walked six in 7 2/3 innings in the first game. Davis Powell got the final out.
Powell scattered six hits, struck out two and walked one in 6 2/3 innings in the second game. Ryan Reagan got the final out with the bases loaded.
“Our pitching was the key to winning tonight,” Orgeron wrote. “Two freshmen pitched for us. Brayden Watkins and Davis Powell grinded it out for us against a really tough lineup. Ryan Reagan closed out the second game for us and he hasn’t pitched in 6 weeks.”
The first game was a nailbiter. Cedar Creek led 2-0 through the top of the seventh.
The Apaches tied it with two in the bottom of the inning. Carson Whitehead and Tanner Cox had back-to-back singles with one out. Ace Rolen walked to load the bases.
Darron Hollingsworth kept Glenbrook in it with a two-out single that scored Whitehead. Watkins then drew a bases-loaded walk, tying the game.
Cedar Creek’s Kade Luker led off the top of the eighth with a single. He was thrown out by Rolen attempting to steal second. Shortstop Hollingsworth got the tag.
The Cougars loaded the bases with two walks. Powell entered the game with two outs and induced a groundout.
Kleaton Davis led off the the bottom of the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carson Powell.
Whitehead was intentionally walked. Ace Rolen drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Reagan then singled and Davis scored the winning run.
“Offensively we prepared all week to hit the fastball and put as much pressure as we could on them and our guys executed it perfectly,” Orgeron wrote.
“It was awesome to see our leader Ryan Reagan hit a walk off in game one tonight.”
Reagan went 3-for-5. Whitehead went 2-for-3. Luker led Cedar Creek, going 2-for-3 with a double.
Glenbrook only had two hits in the second game. But the Apaches took advantage of nine walks, three hit-by-pitches and numerous errors.
The game was tied at 2 through five innings. Glenbrook scored four in the bottom of the sixth.
Whitehead led off with a walk and Cox was hit by a pitch. Ryder Malone’s single loaded the bases.
Reagan drew a walk, scoring Whitehead. Hollingsworth was hit by a pitch, putting Glenbrook up 4-2. The Apaches scored their final two runs on a passed ball and error.
Reagan relieved Powell with two outs in the top of the second. He walked the first batter to load the bases then induced a groundout to second baseman Watkins to end the game and give the Apaches the championship.
Glenbrook (16-13), which entered the game No. 19 in the select Division IV power rankings, hosts North DeSoto Thursday at 6. Cedar Creek, which entered the game at No. 2, dropped to 21-5.
The Cougars had won 17 of their last 18 before Thursday’s games.