WORCESTER, Mass. -- Chelmsford needed two extra innings to complete its first state championship run in 59 years. Don't expect any complaints from Lions fans.
No. 14 Chelmsford (19-8) completed its MIAA D1 state championship run Friday night with an 8-2, nine-inning victory over No. 8 Braintree (15-9) at Polar Park. Senior Matthew Stuart, a Gardner-Webb commit, went the distance on the mound, allowing two runs on eight hits in nine innings. He walked two and struck out six. Over three tournament starts, Stuart was 3-0 with a 0.61 ERA and 18 strikeouts. Stuart also provided some heroics at the plate with three hits and a run scored.
Chelmsford's previous state championship win in baseball came in 1966.
Freshman Aidan Brackett, who had to leave the game in the third inning after taking a Stuart change-up to the throat, had the game-winning RBI on a single in the ninth. Senior Matt Hall followed with a sacrifice fly to score Stuart. John Latham added a two-run single.
Chelmsford's Cinderella tournament run finished the way it started -- with an extra-inning victory. Chelmsford was pushed to the limit by No. 19 Shrewsbury in a preliminary round matchup, earning a 1-0 victory in eight innings. The Lions then knocked off No. 11 Wellesley, No. 3 Bishop Feehan, and No. 2 St. John's Shrewsbury to set up the championship game matchup with No. 8 Braintree.
Here's a look at six standouts from the D1 championship game.
