Following wins over the weekend against Chino Valley in the quarterfinals and Empire in the finals, the high school baseball team has been crowned the 2013 Division III state champions.

The local boys made the trip to Surprise Stadium Friday and Saturday to continue their run through the post-season.

After handily beating Chino Valley 7-1 Friday afternoon, the Falcons battled it out with the Empire Ravens on Saturday night to earn the state crown, winning the final game of the season 5-4.

Chino Valley

Fountain Hills took on Chino Valley in the state quarterfinals with pitcher Nick Wojtysiac only giving up a single run in the top of the first inning.

This would be the only time the Falcons found themselves behind this outing as the local boys went on to score three runs in the bottom of the first and another four in the second, more than enough to put the game away.

Play remained even throughout the remainder of the game with the Falcons going on to claim a 7-1 victory and secure their trip to the state finals.

Wojtysiac was on the mound for the full seven innings, striking out nine throughout.

“Nick was lights out,” said head coach Mike Briguglio.

“He struggled a little bit in the first, then he was almost untouchable. That helped keep the momentum in our favor.”

The Falcons scored their seven runs on just six hits on the night as the bats cooled off a bit through the late innings.

Cory Kukkola had a hit and two runs while Devin Foyle managed an RBI and a run.

Andrew Bryniarski had a triple, a run and two RBIs while Cameron Russo put in a double, a run and two RBIs of his own.

Paul Bryniarski hit a sacrifice fly while Josh Tant added three hits including a double and a run.

“We didn’t have too many hits, but they were certainly timely,” Briguglio added.

“We took advantage of four walks and just made sure that all our hits counted.”

Following the game, Briguglio said his message to the Falcons was a simple one as the boys prepared for their final outing.

“I said we just have to keep doing what we need to do,” he added.

“I told them we weren’t trying to reinvent baseball or anything. Just play the game the way they were taught and, most importantly, have fun.”

Empire

Back in Surprise to take on the Empire Ravens in the state championship, the Falcons actually started off on rocky footing for what would evolve into an edge-of-your-seat game of baseball.

“Empire got on with an error, a base hit and a walk to load the bases, and then a guy hit a double,” Briguglio explained.

“That’s how we started out down 3-0 in the first inning.”

Andrew Bryniarski was on the mound this outing and, despite the rough start, Briguglio said the pitcher didn’t let the first inning get in his head.

“I told him it was still early, so let’s not let them get any more runs this inning,” Briguglio said.

“Then he calmed down and did exactly that. His pitching was great for most of the game, retiring 10 in a row at one point.”

Empire added another run in the top of the fourth before the Falcons answered back with three of their own.

“I think that was the turning point for us,” Briguglio said.

“Devin Foyle and Cameron Russo both hit big triples, leading to our three runs.”

Now within striking distance, the Falcons added another run in the fifth inning, tying the game at 4-4.

The Falcons got into a bit of trouble in the seventh with two outs and bases loaded with Empire runners, but the team was able to pull off the final out before heading to the plate for a final time.

“We kept offensive pressure on Empire constantly,” Briguglio said.

“We had 12 hits throughout the night.”

One of the most important hits of the evening, though, came from Ethan Fett with two men out and a man on first and second in the bottom of the final inning of play.

Fett hit a hard line drive that bounced and was snagged by the diving Empire shortstop. Paul Bryniarski was already bolting from second to third by the time the ball passed behind him, however, and made a mad dash for home plate.

Sliding into home head first in front of the throw from the shortstop, Bryniarski popped up from the plate as the winning run, triggering a flock of Falcons to rush the field and begin the celebration.

“I think Paul read the ball through and had no idea that the shortstop had caught it behind him,” Briguglio said.

“I was signaling for him to stop, but I’m glad he didn’t see me. Or, if he did see me, I’m glad he didn’t listen.”

Briguglio laughed at the memory of those final moments.

“In my 31 years of coaching, that was the most exciting end I’ve seen to a game,” he added.

“I was just stunned.”

At the plate, Kukkola managed two hits and a run this outing with Foyle adding two hits, including a triple, a run and an RBI.

Russo had two deep triples and scored two runs while Paul Bryniarski added two hits, a run and an RBI.

Fett put in the game-winning RBI while Justin Steuber provided two singles.

“I also want to give a shout out to our catcher, Josh Tant,” Briguglio added.

“Unless a catcher gets a bunch of hits, they tend to be left out of the stats. But he did a great job of blocking the ball and working with our pitchers this weekend.”

This marks the fourth state title for the Fountain Hills Falcons, something Briguglio said he is very proud of.

“Even when we were down 4-0, I never had to get the kids together and motivate them,” Briguglio said.

“Russo kept them fired up and the crowd was amazing, which obviously added to the momentum.

“Coming back and winning under those conditions was amazing. The kids believed in themselves 100 percent and I’d like to thank everyone who came out and believed in them, too. We’re truly blessed.”