It was Connor Foley’s turn to get the job done for Bay City Western.
He got ‘er done in the Division 1 state championship game.
The senior pitcher fired the Warriors to a 1-0 victory over Brother Rice for the state tile.
Foley went all seven innings, allowing no runs on six hits and walking one. He fanned six batters and stranded a batter in the bottom of the seventh.
“It’s the best game I’ve pitched in my life,” he said. “I couldn’t have picked a better game to do it. Every pitch…if I wanted it on the outside corner, it was going there. If I wanted it on the inside corner, it was there.”
Foley said his main goal throughout the game was “throw to contact.” It’s a strategy that worked.
“I knew throw to contact and I have a great D,” Foley said. “I knew they would take care of it. Before the game, I told the guys, we’ll need four or five runs. I’m pitching. But all we needed was one today. I don’t know. It’s unexplainable.”
Brett Adock, who had pitched the Warriors to a 2-1 victory over Stevenson in the semifinals, was getting ready just in case Foley faded. But Foley got the job done.
“I know he’s got me, and once I mess up a little bit, Brett’s coming in, we’re still going to win,” Foley said. “That was my mindset, go after them. I’ve got full trust in Brett. He has full trust in me.”
Brother Rice ended the season at 32-9-1. “They’re a great team; they hit the crap out of the ball,” Foley said. “I thought we’d need four, five, or six runs. My defense, I have to say it again.”
Western scored the game’s only run the top of the sixth. “When we got the run, I knew we were getting it,” he said. “I knew.”
Foley finished at 8-0 with a 1.00 ERA. “It’s not a good as Brett’s but good enough for me,” he said.
Foley said he wasn’t worried about the possibility of Adcock coming in to relieve him. “I was saying ‘if you want to come in and shut it down, go right ahead.’ As long as he gives me the win, he can have the save. I thought he was coming in [in the final inning.]”
Foley said he throws over the top and also submarine style. Either way, he got the job done against Brother Rice.