PETERSBURG, Va. - A big sixth inning helped Saint Augustine's College dethrone three-time champion Virginia State University 6-3 Saturday to win the 2010 CIAA baseball championship at Colbert Field on Virginia State University's campus.
It was the first CIAA crown since 1999 for the Falcons (35-19 overall), who also won the league's regular-season title. The Trojans, who beat the Falcons in the finals the last two seasons, dropped to 25-21 overall.
“I am so excited,” said Falcon head coach Charles Whitaker, the CIAA coach of the year. “It's been so long. We are glad to bring it back.”
The Falcons scored three runs in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie. Tournament MVP Kevin Johnson (Sr./Seattle, Wash.) led off the inning with a single and stole second and third base before scoring on a wild pitch. Wayne Lewis (So./Charlotte, N.C.) added a line-drive double to left field to bring in two more runs for a 6-3 lead.
Winning pitcher Brandon Stewart (Jr./Atlanta, Ga.) kept the Trojans at bay the last three innings. Stewart allowed 10 hits overall in a nine-inning complete game, but he prevented the Trojans from scoring after they took a 3-2 lead in the second inning. The Trojans led 2-0 in the top of the first inning, but Johnson tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the first with a two-run single.
“This was a great day for Kevin,” Whitaker said about Johnson, a standout senior who had a memorable game. "That is the way to end a college career."
Andrew Holt smacked an RBI single for a 3-2 Trojan lead in the second inning. The Falcons tied the game 3-3 in the fourth when Brian Clark (Jr./Chicago, Ill.) scored on an error.
Johnson batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Lewis was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for the Falcons. John Bivens was 3-for-4 with a triple and one RBI for the Trojans. Caleb Lee scattered four hits and walked six batters in 5 1/3 innings for the loss.
Stewart, along with Johnson, Lewis, Ryan Wood (So./Chester, Va.), Josh Bishop (Jr./Richmond, Va.) and Chris Rogers (Fr./Chicago, Ill.) were named to the All-CIAA Tournament team. They led a team that finished the tournament unbeaten with a 3-0 mark. The Trojans needed two wins for the championship in the double-elimination tournament, but the Falcons stopped it from going to a second game.
“I am proud of the players,” Whitaker said. “They have worked hard since the fall. I would also like to thank assistant coach Mike Swann.”
