A pitching gem and a solo homer propel Eagle River to its first state baseball championship

Once the jubilant mob scene behind the mound dissipated, leaving a few hats, gloves and even the game ball scattered across the diamond, Luke Barch was the last of the Eagle River Wolves to walk toward the dugout.

The dude rightfully deserved the stage to himself.

A couple of months removed from his freshman year of high school, Barch pitched brilliantly Tuesday night to help the Eagle River baseball team earn its first taste of championship glory.

He tossed an 85-pitch, two-hit complete game and hulking first baseman Orazio Ramos homered for the game’s only run in the Wolves’ swift and stunning 1-0 victory over the South Wolverines in the American Legion state championship game at Mulcahy Stadium.

The unofficial game time for the seven-inning finale was 79 minutes. The duel between Barch and South pitcher Reid Brock featured a scant five hits and 11 baserunners

The Wolves (22-8) are set to represent Alaska in the American Legion Northwest Regional next week in Gillette, Wyoming.

“Man, I just knew this was the last year for a lot of my big, (older) guys, the ones that kind of coached me up for the season,” said Barch, 15. “I was really pushing to see this one through for all of them.”

Eagle River advanced to its first Legion title game after winning two of its three round-robin games and spanking Ketchikan 7-0 in Monday’s semifinals.

South (26-3) entered the tournament as the top seed and won a combined 43 of 45 games during the Legion and high school seasons. The Wolverines rolled to the Alaska School Activities Association Division I title last month in dominating fashion.

Barch shut them down with assistance from a couple of timely double plays, including one with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. He retired the first 11 batters he faced.

“I was just winging it, throwing the ball as hard as I could,” said Barch, who was named top pitcher in the eight-team tournament. His teammate, Cam Witte, was named MVP.

After the Wolves’ on-field celebration, Barch walked off the mound for one final time, doffing his hat to South in a show of sportsmanship. The Wolverines returned the favor from their dugout steps.

“He threw strikes the entire night, really good strikes,” said South shortstop Kellen Curtis, the tournament’s Gold Glove winner. “And sometimes in baseball you hit the ball to the wrong place.

“But (Barch) had a great game.”

One ball was hit to the right place, and it came off the bat of Ramos in the top of the fourth inning.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, the 18-year old bludgeoned the first pitch he saw well over the fence to left-center field. It was a no-doubt homer for Ramos, who led the league during the regular season with a .511 average.

“It’s just one of those moments where your mind goes blank,” said Ramos, who recently completed his first year at Cuesta College in California. “You get lost in the moment and can’t really think of anything.

“It felt like I got a real piece of the ball and it had a chance.”

Why be modest? The rocket would’ve easily cleared most parks.

The home run spoiled an otherwise sterling effort from South’s Brock, who surrendered three hits, walked one and struck out five.

Brock also picked up one of his team’s hits, a one-out double in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Ramos, who made a couple nice defensive picks at first, said he loved witnessing Barch’s masterpiece.

“It’s rare to see someone so young do something so great,” he said. “But it’s not just Luke. Everyone on this team came together.”

Next stop? Wyoming.

“First visit,” Ramos said. “I’m going to be so happy when we get down there.”

Matt Nevala co-hosts “The Sports Guys” on KHAR AM 590 and FM 96.7 (@cbssports590) Saturdays at 11 a.m. Find him on social media at @MNevala9.

State tournament awards

MVP — Cam Witte, Eagle River

Top pitcher — Luke Barch, Eagle River

Gold Glove — Kellen Curtis, South

Big Stick — Kaden Bevegni, South