FAYETTEVILLE -- Jaydon Hostetler hadn't hit a home run all season, but he picked the right time for his first.
The senior second baseman hit a 1-2 pitch that just made it into the left-field bullpen for a solo home run to power Nashville to a 1-0 victory over Shiloh Christian and their third consecutive Class 4A state baseball title Friday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Nashville Coach Kyle Slayton was pleased with Hostetler's timing, which provided him with his fifth state title and fourth with the Scrappers (29-6). But Slayton wasn't certain it had the distance initially.
"Jaydon Hostetler, what a big time to come up with a big hit and a home run," Slayton said. "That might be the first one in four years for him. He's just one of those guys. He probably hit three balls out of the yard in BP in four years. He just got it at the right time.
"It came off the bat and it just kept going. The wind kept blowing it to the foul pole, and I knew when it kept blowing it there it might have a chance. Man, it got in that bullpen and I thought maybe that might be enough."
Shiloh Christian Coach Moe Henry credited Hostetler for a good at-bat.
"It was just one of those deals, he competed at the plate and he got the bat on the ball," Henry said. "It didn't seem like one of those swings. He just put the bat on it and connected just right.
"Hats off to Nashville, they've done what they needed to do in the three years we've played them," said Henry, whose team has lost three consecutive years in the finals to Nashville. "In the three years we've played them, we've scored one run against them."
Hostetler's home run was enough with Tristen Jamison on the mound. He allowed 3 hits, struck out 8 and walked 3 in the complete-game victory to earn MVP honors.
Jamison, who also picked up a state tournament win a year ago, isn't a hard thrower, but he knows how to change speeds, Slayton said.
"What a performance by Tristen Jamison. He's one of those guys who throws any pitch at any time," Slayton said. "You really can't guess with him. He's a backwards pitcher. But he's been a dominator for the last two years for us."
Jamison outdueled Shiloh left-hander Walker Williams. The junior took the loss, despite allowing just 1 run on 5 hits over 6 innings. He struck out 12 and walked one.
The Saints (24-6) left runners in scoring position a couple of times early against Jamison. Williams found the left-center field gap for a two-out double to put runners at second and third in the third inning, but Sawyer Duddleston struck out to end the threat. Shiloh Christian got only one runner to second base over the final four innings.
Sports on 05/18/2019