'It's amazing': Ashley baseball secures first state championship berth in 17 years

After 17 years of waiting, Ashley baseball is heading to a state championship.

The top-seeded Screaming Eagles (26-4) punched their ticket to next week's NCHSAA 4A State championship with a walk-off 1-0 win over No. 22 Cardinal Gibbons in Game 3 of the 4A East regional championship.

"I'm kind of out of this world right now," Ashley coach Ben Stroehl said after the win. "They never quit; this is the kind of team you want to have."

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After six full innings without a score, Ashley's Tanner Berry doubled in the bottom of the seventh. Drew Potter then singled on a line drive into the gap, sending Berry around third base and to home plate before the throw for the game's sole run.

Berry says past experiences in high-pressure moments shaped his mentality as he went to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.

"We all want to be the hero, we want to be the guy," he said. "I've had that mindset going up there and haven't succeeded. I knew this could be the last game of the year, so I had to be smart, play small ball, and get on base."

After Berry's double, Potter knew that his team would advance to the state title game.

"I was so ready for the pitch," Potter said of his game-winning single," I knew it was game. I knew we were going to win. It's been amazing this season, and our confidence level is so high right now."

Ashley's last four playoff wins have all been walk-offs. The team made its last state championship appearance in 2007, losing two straight to South Caldwell. Since then, only the Ashley girls soccer team (2023) has advanced to a state title game.

Ashley will face T.C. Roberson (26-4) in the NCHSAA 4A state title game next week in Burlington or Holly Springs.

"It feels awesome," Stroehl said of reaching a state championship. "We're glad to be back, and we can't wait to see where we're going."

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Ashley baseball walks-off Cardinal Gibbons in 4A East Regional final