Chase Gockenbach. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO — As much as Lakeway Christian Academy sophomore pitcher Chase Gockenbach tried to downplay his accomplishment after the game Thursday night, you still couldn’t help but marvel at his complete-game effort in the Division II-A state championship.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound prospect hadn’t pitched in roughly a month, as he had been efforting to return from a knee injury.
But when St. George’s beat Lakeway 11-2 early in the day Thursday to force a decisive if-necessary game with the Lions, Lakeway coach Chuck Hargis put the ball in Gockenbach’s hand.
“He’s worked hard the last five weeks or so to try and get back,” Hargis said. “He called me on Sunday and said, ‘Hey, I’m ready. I’m 100 percent.
“He gave us a complete game. Great effort by him.”
Gockenbach delivered a gem, all things considered.
Though he said he didn’t have his normal velocity on his fast ball back just yet, he still threw seven innings, scattering just five hits with one walk. He struck out four and allowed one earned run.
The Lions (28-15) took advantage of Gockenbach’s heroics, posting five early runs en route to a 6-1 win over St. George’s at MTSU’s Reese Smith Jr. Field.
The win gave Lakeway its first-ever baseball state championship in its first-ever appearance at the Spring Fling. The program wasn’t ranked in the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association’s final Top 10 poll in Division II-A at the end of the regular season.
The Lions held that in reserve for motivation when needed this postseason.
“We’ve played with a chip on our shoulder. No one’s believed in us all year,” said Gockenbach, who had the game-winning hit Wednesday night in Lakeway’s eight-inning semifinal win.
“We just believed in each other. Played as a family. Got it done.”
Garza Law is the proud sponsor of 5Star Preps’ 2026 TSSAA Spring Fling state championship coverage May 19-22 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Lakeway blew a 2-0 lead in Game 1 against St. George’s by giving up 11 runs over a three-inning span.
In the rematch, Lakeway jumped to a 5-0 lead after two and Gockenbach and the defense never let the Gryphon sniff a comeback.
Bryson Allen finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Luke Burnett, Jack Hamilton and Chase Gregory each had an RBI.
Every player who batted for Lakeway in the title game got one hit.
“You know what, when I started here seven years ago, we had six baseball players — and only one had played,” Hargis said. “So, to come from where we were then, all those guys before these guys helped us build what we have — I told my wife when I took this job that it would take five or six years.
“And here we are six years later, so it’s awesome.”