LEBANON, Tenn. — A pair of electric arms treated fans at Wilson Central High School to a pitchers' duel Wednesday in the TSSAA Division II-AA baseball tournament.
It was the beginning of the end for Baylor School's bid to win this year's championship.
Briarcrest Christian senior signee Jack Gleason threw a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts, and the right-hander became the first pitcher to shut out Baylor School this season as the Saints advanced to Thursday's state final with a 4-0 victory.
Gleason outdueled Virginia signee Tomas Valincius, who also had 10 strikeouts while picking off three baserunners and allowing just two earned runs in a 99-pitch complete game. It was Valincius' first loss of the season as he fell to 8-1 overall.
"Both of those guys were lights out on the mound. Their guy was phenomenal," Baylor coach Greg Elie said of Gleason, a Mississippi State signee who has 29 strikeouts over his past three scoreless outings for Briarcrest (27-13).
Baylor did not put a runner on until there were two outs in the bottom of the fifth, when freshman Kilby Hartley came off the bench to deliver his first varsity hit with a double to left field.
Inclement weather pushed the start of Baylor's elimination game against Christian Brothers later Wednesday all the way back to 9:30 p.m. Eastern, and although the Red Raiders finally put some offense together with a three-run seventh inning, it wasn't enough in a 5-3 loss that ended their season at 25-8.
The Red Raiders were seeking the program's sixth state title, with No. 5 coming in 2021 as Baylor won its third in a row. The Red Raiders went 0-2 at state in 2022 and missed the Spring Fling altogether last year before returning this season.
Baylor had opened its time at the tournament with a 6-4 win against Christian Brothers on Tuesday. In the nightcap vs Christian Brothers, Baylor fell 5-3. So, their run ends in the Final Four.
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