Third Title a Breeze for Grace Brethren

The seven senior starters for Grace Brethren High have done one thing throughout their baseball careers--win.

So, it was no surprise when the Lancers won their third consecutive Southern Section Division VI baseball championship on Friday, defeating Bloomington Christian, 13-0, at Blair Field in a game called after 4 1/2 innings because of the 10-run rule.

Grace Brethren (23-4) showed more poise than did the Ravens, who were making their first appearance in a title game.

The top-seeded Lancers pounded out 10 hits while the No. 3-seeded Ravens (23-1) committed four errors and mustered only three hits.

Tim Thompson (17-2), who set a Southern Section record for career victories last month, notched another victory Friday, bringing his total to 56.

Thompson this season surpassed Scott McGregor, who totaled 51 victories for El Segundo from 1969-72.

Thompson relieved starter Shawn McClain in the third inning and allowed only one hit.

The margin of victory was the largest in a Southern Section championship game since Crossroads defeated Woodcrest Christian, 18-2, for the Small Schools Division title in 1985.

“This validates us,” Grace Brethren Coach Aaron Marcarelli said. “It puts us up there with the best teams ever. It’s a validation of the hard work they’ve done all year.”

Two years ago, Grace Brethren lost in the quarterfinals but was reinstated because an opponent used an ineligible player. The Lancers did not lose the rest of the season, and a Division VI dynasty was born.

Last year, the Lancers proved they could win a championship without the help of a technicality, never trailing in a playoff game en route to a second consecutive title.

This year, the Lancers were ranked No. 1 in Division VI the entire season and lived up to it. They scored at least 10 runs in each of their last 13 games.

The Lancers scored four runs in the first inning and two in the second against Bloomington Christian.

Grace Brethren chased starter Blaise Mikkelson (9-1) in the third inning, taking an 8-0 lead on Chris Beaty’s two-run double.

Mikkelson, who entered with a 1.19 earned-run average, exited after allowing seven hits and walking two.

“I told the guys we wanted to start off with a bang,” Marcarelli said. “I would say we did that.”

Bloomington Christian hit two singles in the first inning, but never threatened after that.

“They put us out pretty quick,” Coach Steve Avalos of Bloomington Christian said. “They were calm. They’ve been here before.”

Grace Brethren became the second team in the region to win three consecutive baseball championships, tying a feat accomplished by Fillmore from 1975-77.

“This is as good as it can get, going to the championship and winning it one last time,” Thompson said. “It’s a really good way for all of our seniors to go out.”