Not only did Alma win its first district title since 2001, but the Panthers accomplished the feat in dramatic fashion with a 4-3 win against Portland.
Trailing 3-0, Alma chipped away at Portland’s lead beginning with an RBI single by Brec Alward. Alma cut the gap to 3-2 when Troy Bastian bunted home Alward. The Panthers tied the game in the sixth inning when Konner Vedrode scored on an error and in the seventh inning Drew Humm scored the winning run as he escaped a pickle on a missed squeeze play.
Pitcher Tristan Villalobos picked up his seventh win of the season in the game.
Darron Anguiano, who pitched a shutout in the district semifinals, picked up his ninth win of the season when Alma defeated Swan Valley in the regional semifinals. Konner Vedrode let the Alma offense with two hits and four RBI in the regional semifinals while Villalobos added two hits and three RBI, Hunter Frisbie added two hits and Alward scored three runs. The win was the 26th of the season for Alma, which dropped a 4-2 decision to Bay City Glenn in the regional title game.