Irish State Bound After Taking B5 Championship

​The O'Neill Pinnacle Bank Irish Seniors are state bound. 

The O'Neill Pinnacle Bank Irish Seniors claimed the Class B5 Championship on Tuesday night at Wayne's Hank Overin Field with an exciting 8-7 victory over West Point. 

Orchard's Brenden Cleveland got the win on the mound, his second of this Area tournament, as he started and went 2 2/3 strong innings to start the pitching plan for the Irish. Esteban DeLaO came on in relief to throw 2 2/3 innings also and lock down the West Point bats. Combined Cleveland and DeLaO gave up only two runs and one hit. After DeLaO, the Irish went to Wyatt Liewer. Liewer came in and recorded two quick outs in the sixth setting the stage for a dramatic seventh inning. 

In the seventh, the West Point bats started to warm up as they drilled five singles to go with two Liewer walks to plate five runs and make the score 8-7. The Irish then called on Justin Appleby to close the door. Appleby came in from shortstop with the bases loaded and promptly sent two West Point hitters back to dugout with strikeouts before allowing an infield single before getting West Point to pop out for the win.

O'Neill will head to Alliance for the Class B State Tournament, beginning Saturday. They will take on B4 Champion Wahoo at 4 p.m.