Lakeway Christian claims TSSAA Division I-A baseball title in debut appearance
Starting pitcher Chase Gockenbach limits St. George's to one earned run as Lakeway Christian wins its first TSSAA state tournament in three games.
Lakeway Christian High School has secured the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Division I-A baseball state championship, marking the institution’s first-ever appearance in the state tournament. The Lions concluded the best-of-three series with a 6-1 victory over St. George’s, clinching the title on May 21 at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro.
The path to the championship required resilience, as the Lions were forced to a decisive third game following an 11-2 defeat in Game 2. After that setback, Lakeway Christian demonstrated significant offensive momentum in the final contest, scoring five runs across the first two innings to establish an early lead that proved insurmountable for their opponents.
Starting pitcher Chase Gockenbach provided the stabilising force for the Lions in the championship game. Over seven innings, Gockenbach allowed five hits and struck out four batters, conceding only one earned run. His performance was instrumental in shutting down the St. George’s lineup after the team’s earlier offensive explosion in the series.
On the batting side, the Lakeway Christian lineup displayed depth, with six individual batters recording hits during the final game. Seniors Bryson Allen and Hudson Ford both contributed with doubles, adding to the offensive pressure that helped secure the victory. The team’s defensive consistency throughout the tournament, outside of the single loss, saw them allow just six runs across their other three state tournament wins.
The event was covered by Wynton Jackson for the Knoxville News Sentinel, with the report subsequently republished by Yahoo Sports. The victory cements Lakeway Christian’s status as the Division I-A champions for this cycle, achieved in their inaugural attempt at the state title.
