This year’s championship game lived up to every bit of its billing — and then some — as the Houston Northside Falcons faced the Raleigh Warriors in a repeat of last year’s championship matchup. But while last year’s game was a pitchers’ duel ending 2-0, this year’s installment packed a lot more offensive punch. In total, the game featured 24 hits, 9 walks, 19 strikeouts, and multiple lead changes, to become one of the most exciting championship games the tournament has seen in over a decade.
Raleigh jumped out to an initial 5-0 lead, only to see the Falcons climb back into the game one run at a time, eventually taking the lead away from the Warriors 6-5. The Warriors weren’t finished, though, and they made their own push to take back a 8-7 lead, only to see the Falcons tie the game in the 7th inning to send it to extra innings.
The Falcons were able to hold the Warriors without a run in the top of the 8th, and did enough to push across the winning run on an RBI single into left field, completing the comeback and the four-peat. The victory positions the Falcons as only the second program ever to win four HWSA championships in a row; the Atlanta Barons achieved this feat twice (2001-2004 and 2007-2010)…!