FROM LIBERTYFLAMES.COM – A two-run, two-out home run [by former Chinook] Trey Wimmer propelled the No. 3 seed Liberty Flames to a 4-3 walk-off victory over the No. 4 seed Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs, Friday at Willard Stadium, earning Liberty a berth in the Big South title game.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, first baseman Alex Close opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Bryan Aanderud.  After advancing to third base on a ground out by designated hitter Tyler Cox, Wimmer drove the first pitch from Runnin’ Bulldog reliever Jeff Howell over the left field fence for the victory.

Liberty moves to 41-18 on the year and advances to tomorrow’s “winner take all” championship game at 4 p.m. The appearance will be the 10^th by Liberty in the title game and its first since 2010. The Flames have made the second-most appearances in the championship. Gardner-Webb finishes the season at 32-28.

After a scoreless first inning, Liberty, the home team on the scoreboard, pushed across the first run of the contest.  Close drew a walk to open the frame and moved to second on a wild pitch by Gardner-Webb starting pitcher Brock Wilson. After advancing to third on a ground out by Aanderud, Close scored on an infield single by Cox for a 1-0 edge.

Gardner-Webb tied the contest in the top of the fourth, only to see Liberty answer with a run in the bottom of the inning. Runnin’ Bulldogs catcher John Harris led off the top half of the inning with his fourth home run of year to knot the contest at 1-1.

In the Flames half of the fourth, Liberty went back in front with a run, benefiting from a Gardner-Webb error.  Right fielder Michael Robertson began the inning by reaching on a fielding miscue by third baseman Brad Collins. After moving to second on a wild pitch by Wilson and third on a deep fly out, Robertson came home when Aanderud singled to right for 2-1 Flames advantage.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs tied the game in the fifth. With one out, second baseman Scott Johnson walked. Two batters later, center fielder Benji Jackson lined a hit-and-run single to right field. And when Liberty’s Robertson could not come up with the ball, Johnson scored, tying the game at 2-2.

Meanwhile, the Flames left runners in scoring position with two outs in each of fifth and the sixth innings. In the fifth, Liberty advanced runners to second and third, only to be turned away.  In the sixth, the Flames moved a runner to third base, but were unable to break the deadlock.

In the top of the eighth, Gardner-Webb took advantage of a Liberty error to take the lead. With two out, Robertson dropped a fly ball to right, hit by right fielder Adam McFarland, for a two-base error. After a pitching change by Liberty, Harris followed with a single to score pinch runner Danny Yelverton for a 3-2 edge, setting the stage for Wimmer’s ninth-inning home run.

Brooks Roy continued the run strong outings by Liberty starting pitchers during the conference tournament. In his longest start of the year,  the right-hander pitched eight innings, allowing three runs, two unearned, on three hits.  He struck out four batters and walked two.

Reliever Matt Marsh moves to 1-1 on the season. The Liberty right-hander allowed one hit over 1 1/3 innings in recording the victory.

Howell falls to 3-4 on the year.  In relief of Willson, Howell pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up the winning runs. He struck out one.

Liberty collected nine hits in the game.  Wimmer had two hits for the Flames.  Six different Liberty players had hits in the contest.

Gardner-Webb had six hits in the game.  Harris had two hits for the Bulldogs.

Tomorrow’s title game will be televised by ESPN3, starting at 4 p.m. The Flames will take on either No. 1 seed Coastal Carolina or No. 7 seed High Point in the Big South Baseball Championship final.

See the full story from www.libertyflames.com

XENIA, OH – Current Chinooks players JJ Turbin and Andrew Work were both honored by the Golden State Athletic Conference as All Conference Performers. Turbin was also named to the All Gold Glove Team for his defensive skills in the outfield this Spring. Work and Turbin are both returning for the 2012 season after a successful summer last year for the Chinooks. Former Chinook Charlie Gillies was named GSAC Pitcher of the Year, as well as being named to the All-GSAC Team.

To see the complete All-GSAC Team, click here.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A.J. Work of The Master’s (Calif.) has been named the NAIA National Baseball Pitcher of the Week, the NAIA national office announced Tuesday. Work was selected based on his performances from April 16 – 22 and was chosen out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Work, a native of Boise, Idaho, finished the week 2-0 after leading the Mustangs to victories against Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) rivals Vanguard (Calif.), 9-1, on April 16 and then-No. 12 Concordia (Calif.), 2-1, on April 21. Against Vanguard, the junior lefthander scattered five hits over 7.1 innings, while allowing one run, striking out four and walking one. Work continued his stellar week against the nationally ranked Eagles, allowing one run on six hits over seven innings. The performance marks the ninth time in 14 appearances that he has thrown at least seven innings.

On the year, Work leads the squad with a 9-2 record and ranks second on the team in earned run average (2.02), innings pitched (89.0) and strikeouts (50).

For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

This article was taken from The Master’s College Website.