Severn, MD – In the 3A State Semifinals, 3A South Champion Chopticon traveled to Joe Cannon Stadium to play host to the champions of the 3A West, Urbana. At stake for both teams was a trip to Ripken Stadium to play for the state championship. Both teams were seeking the first state championship berth in their program’s history. Chopticon played their ace Ljay Newsome, and he delivered.

In the top of the first, Newsome struck out the side while throwing only 10 pitches. In the home half, Robbie Kidwell got the Braves started with a single into right field. He proceeded to steal second as Newsome battled during his at bat, drawing a walk.

Austin Bussler followed Newsome with an RBI single up the middle to score Kidwell and put the Braves on the board. In the top of the second, Connor Wills hit a single to put Urbana on base. He was moved to second on a Logan Haggerty sacrifice bunt, and knocked in on a Robbie Mackintosh single to even the score at 1-1.

The score wouldn’t remain tied for long however, as in the bottom of the second, Nick Gray hit a double down the right field line, and scored on a Zach Jerew base hit.  Urbana threatened again in the top of the third, when they put a runner on 3rd base with 2 outs, but Newsome settled down, forced Jack Stines to ground out weakly to the third baseman to end the inning. Chopticon’s offense couldn’t muster anything in the bottom of the third, and the teams went into the top of the fourth with a score of 2-1 Chopticon.

Newsome struck out the side once again in the top of the fourth, and Chopticon’s bats came alive in the home half of the fourth. To start the inning off, Nick Gray walked on 4 pitches, advanced to second on a Jerew sac bunt, and scored on a Chris Lawrence fielder’s choice that he reached base on as well. Jacob Wood forced a walk and both runners scored on a C.J. Hill base hit to left center. They threatened again as with two outs, the Braves had Hill on third, and Newsome on second. However Austin Bussler struck out swinging to end the inning. The damage was done as the Braves pushed three runs across, and had extended their lead to 5-1.

The fifth inning showed Newsome struggle for the only time all game. However, his catcher, Robbie Kidwell, picked up where Newsome left off by catching two runners stealing in the inning. Urbana pushed a run across in the inning however, as Jordan Crites scored on a Danny Smith single. Smith was caught stealing to end the inning. The score stood at 5-2 Chopticon going into the bottom of the fifth. They quickly got the runs back as Jay Hammett hit a double to deep left field, and advance to third on a passed ball. He then scored on a Jerew sacrifice fly to left center. In the top of the sixth, Newsome struck out two Hawks to push his strikeout total to 10. The Braves did nothing in the home half of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh Chopticon was up 6-2. Newsome toed the mound, threw 12 pitches, and struck out the side to push his strikeout total to 13, and clinch a berth in the State Championship for his team.

The state championship will be played at Ripken Stadium on Saturday May 23, at 7 p.m.