Bell City baseball team rallies to win Class 1 title game in eight innings

O'FALLON, Mo. -- As soon as the home plate umpire signaled a third strike to an Atlanta batter to end the Class 1 baseball state championship, the Bell City dugout emptied onto the field with players jumping and hugging in celebration on the pitcher's mound at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.

Bell City relief pitcher Austin Hicks reacts after throwing a third strike to win Class 1 championship game against Atlanta, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in O Fallon, Missouri. Bell City won 6-3 in extra innings. (Laura Simon)

Close behind was Cubs coach Justin Simpher, and sophomore second baseman Jesse Smith wasted little time in running at the second-year coach and jumping into his arms.

The team was not only reveling in its first state championship in the sport but also in a come-from-behind, 6-3 victory in extra innings.

"Me and (assistant) coach (Josh Overbey) were talking the whole game and we got down, and we never did feel like we gave up," Simpher said. "The whole time we just had a feeling that we were going to make a run back -- and they did. Now that it's happened, you just can't describe it. I'm not a really emotional guy, but I'm very emotional today."

The Cubs were down to their final out in the top of the seventh inning with the top of their lineup due up.

Leadoff hitter Cole Nichols was hit by a pitch and scored when Austin Hicks drove the ball to right field. The ball bounced off the Atlanta right fielder's glove for a three-base error to tie the game at 3-3.

"I was just [thinking], 'Here it is. Here it is. This is what we were talking about the whole game, knowing that we were coming back.' ... I was excited," Simpher said. "That's probably the most excited I've ever been on the field. It's just kids stepping up and doing what they need to do to give themselves a chance."

Hicks said he knew Atlanta starter Garrett West, who didn't allow a hit through three innings, liked to get ahead in the count with a fastball and was prepared when he immediately got the pitch he wanted.

"I knew as soon as I got in the at-bat that I was going to look for a fastball, something that I could drive, and it just happened to be the first pitch of the at-bat," Hicks said. "I seen it, and I drove it. And I felt like I squared it up pretty good, but then when I stood up on third base they said he touched it. I was just shocked that he got it, but it was really an adrenaline rush."

Reliever Peyton Maddox then retired the Hornets in order for the first time in the bottom of the seventh.

Bell City head coach Justin Simpher sends baserunner Cole Nichols home for a run in the fifth inning of the Class 1 championship game against Atlanta, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in O Fallon, Missouri. Bell City won 6-3 in extra innings. (Laura Simon)

A diving catch by left fielder Nolan Schaefer to rob Trace Johnston of a base hit was sandwiched between a couple of fly outs to center. The Hornets had the leadoff batter reach in each of the first six innings.

"I just went out there and thought, 'I can do it. I'm going to carry my team on my back, and I'm going to bear down. And we're going to get these three outs, and we're going to come back and win it,'" Maddox said.

The junior led off the eighth with a single to right field, Bobby Wright followed with a swinging bunt for a base hit, and Tyler Evans was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.

"My dad always tells me, 'Be a leadoff man,'" Maddox said. "I knew if I got something on the right side there was a big gap, so I just shortened up my swing and tried to push something that way. Coach told me to just find a way."

Maddox scored the go-ahead run when Schaefer grounded out to third for the second out of the inning.

Smith then hit one to short and Collan Thrasher's throw to first skipped away from the bag on a play that was ruled a hit and an error, allowing the final two runs to score for a 6-3 advantage.

Hicks, who pitched six innings in Tuesday night's semifinal win, entered to close out the game in the bottom of the eighth.

A Bell City fan roots for the Cubs during the Class 1 championship game against Atlanta, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in O Fallon, Missouri. Bell City won 6-3 in extra innings. (Laura Simon)

"All we needed was one," Wright said. "Austin Hicks -- when he's up there, they're not scoring."

Two runners reached base, but Hicks struck out two-hole hitter Chase Wait looking with a runner on first to end it and record the first save of his sophomore season.

The Cubs faced a 3-0 deficit after three innings. They were retired in order in the first two innings and had just one runner reach in the third on an error.

Wright, who started on the mound, hit West with the first pitch he threw in the game and walked the next batter before stranding both runners in the bottom of the first.

He issued a leadoff walk, a one-out walk and hit a batter with two outs in the bottom of the second before striking out Wait to strand the bases loaded.

Wright's fourth walk of the game came at the start of the bottom of the fourth. Thrasher followed with the Hornets' first hit of the game on a bloop hit that dropped between the second baseman Smith and first baseman Evans. Thrasher beat Smith to the bag in a foot race. Marty Halley then tripled to the wall in right -- right fielder Brandon Abner slipped and fell down trying to track the ball out of the air -- to put Atlanta up 2-0. Korbin Gunnels gave the Hornets a three-run lead with an RBI single to center.

"I haven't pitched in a while, but I don't know. I just didn't have it today. I was all over the place," Wright said. "But I kept my team in the game, I thought. Three runs -- we can come back from that. We've got good bats."

Hicks singled to right to lead off the fourth for the Cubs' first hit of the game and scored when Wright singled to center and the center fielder over-ran the ball to cut the Hornets' lead to 3-1.

Bell City players celebrate their 6-3 win over Atlanta to capture the Class 1 championship, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in O Fallon, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Nichols reached on a fielder's choice in the fifth and stole second before Hicks sent one to right for an RBI base hit to make it a one-run game.

"We came in, and both coaches just told us to believe and that we could do it," Maddox said of the deficit. "We all know we've got to score to win."

Maddox stranded runners in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth before the Cubs tied it in the next inning. He picked up the win on the mound and finished his junior season 6-1. He allowed four hits in five shutout innings, striking out three and walking one.

Bell City concluded its championship season with a record of 25-3.

"Adrenaline's going still, and I just feel amazing right now," Maddox said. "It's a dream come true."

Bell City 000 110 13 -- 6 8 0

Atlanta 003 000 00 -- 3 8 3

WP -- Peyton Maddox. LP -- Garrett West. 3B -- Marty Halley (A). Multiple events -- Bell City: Austin Hicks 2-4, Maddox 2-4, Bobby Wright 2-4; Atlanta: Halley 2-4.