On June 6, Grapevine High School baseball competed against Humble Kingwood Park High School in the UIL 5A Division 2 state championship and won 9-5, securing their second consecutive state championship.
Freshman Luke Esquivel started on the mound for the Mustangs and pitched two innings with two strikeouts and was replaced by senior Benjamin Chen in the bottom of the third inning, tied at 4-4.
In the top of the fourth inning, down one run, senior Brady Boozer led off with a double and was later driven in by a sacrifice fly from junior Zack Goldstein. The Mustangs took back the lead in the same inning when Esquivel scored after a double from junior Gianni Corral.
Up by two runs in the final inning, GHS extended its lead with two runs. Sophomore Connor Ray hit a single to bring in senior Colin Park and later scored off a wild pitch.
After pitching three scoreless innings, Chen was replaced by senior Samuel DuRard, who struck out the final two batters to claim GHS’s third baseball state championship in program history.
The Mustangs are also the first UIL 5A team to win back-to-back state championships since Fort Bend Elkins High School in the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Congratulations, Mustangs!
UIL 5A Division 2 All-Tournament Team:
MVP - Senior, Benjamin Chen
Pitcher - Senior, Samuel Durard
Catcher - Junior, Gianni Corral
1st Base - Senior, Jarrett Boswell
3rd Base - Junior, Lale Esquivel
Shortstop - Sophomore, Connor Ray
