FAYETTEVILLE -- Junction City Coach Joe Paul Hammett knows things can get a little uneasy in Union County if there is a championship drought of any kind.
There were no such worries for the Dragons on Friday.
Junction City shrugged off a slow start with an overwhelming performance to beat Walnut Ridge 13-2 in the Class AA state championship game at Baum Stadium.
"At Junction, you better get one within so many years or they start screaming at you," Junction City Coach Joe Paul Hammett said. "This feels so good because it's been 10 years since we've got one, and this kind of wipes that bad taste out of our mouths from 2011."
The blowout victory erased any lingering memories Junction City may have had from its last appearance in the title game. The Dragons were run-ruled by county rival Parkers Chapel 12-1 in 2011.
The victory marked Junction City's first state title since 2004, and it gave the Dragons at least one state title in each of the past five decades. Junction City won a title in 1977, three during the 1980s and another in 1992.
"The guys were just super," Hammett said. "I really can't say enough about them. We got off to that slow start again, kind of like we did in the semifinals against Woodlawn, but they never blinked an eye, continued to battle and did what we needed to do to get the win."
Junction City (24-12) banged out 16 hits, with Cameron Cupp, Will Smith and Keegan Hanry providing three each. Smith also scored four runs. Every starter had at least one hit.
Junction City also got an impressive outing from pitcher Parker Hammett, who won his 14th game and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The senior allowed 3 hits while striking out 10 in 7 innings.
"He was phenomenal," Walnut Ridge Coach Derek Bramlett said. "He threw hard, had his fastball up there around 82-83 and was able to get his curveball over. We don't see that very often in our league."
Walnut Ridge (27-9) jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Cash Lee went down swinging to lead off, but the Bobcats' next three batters reached base safely before Drake Smelser's single allowed Layne Ditto and Cole Hole to score. Lane Kennedy also tried to score from first on Smelser's hit but was thrown out at the plate
A mistake-filled second inning was a sign of things to come for Walnut Ridge. The Bobcats committed a pair of infield errors that led to two runs, both with two outs. Zach Doolin and Smith opened the inning with consecutive singles, moved into scoring position on passed balls and raced home on consecutive throwing miscues moments later.
Walnut Ridge's struggles continued in the fourth inning. Hanry singled to start and advanced to third on back-to-back wild pitches. The junior eventually scored on Joe Lowe's double, and Lowe later scored on Cupp's two-out single to give Junction City a 4-2 lead.
"They hit the balls hard, but the surface here is very firm so the balls get on you in a hurry," Bramlett said. "Those were plays that we should be able to make, but we didn't and that kind of gets in your pitcher's head a little."
The Bobcats finished with five errors, and while the Dragons' bats heated up Parker Hammett kept the Bobcats quiet after his shaky start.
Parker Hammett gave up one hit over the final six innings and at one point retired 10 in a row and didn't allow a runner to advance past second base.
"Parker was a little off at the beginning and gave up two runs off the bat, but that's just how he is," Joe Paul Hammett said. "He's our workhorse, and he's been that for us all season long."
Sports on 05/24/2014