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SEMINOLE — Something about the Steve Georgiadis Tournament always brings out the best in Brett Phillips.
A year after hitting a triple and scoring the winning run to lead in the championship game, Phillips was it again, providing the big hits to lead host Seminole to its second straight tournament title with a 9-0 victory over Cambridge in Friday’s final.
Phillips, the tournament MVP, hit two triples, the first a three-run shot in the second inning that turned out to be the winning hit. Better still, it came against Lancers starter Nick Eicholtz, who has signed with Alabama.
“People may look at the team we were playing as a lowly 2A school,” Phillips said. “But that pitcher is going to Alabama, and he is pretty good. We knew that team was going to battle. (Eicholtz) threw a couple of fastballs, and I was able to get all over them.”
After a scoreless first inning, the Warhawks (16-3) put something together offensively as Adam Atkinson led singled, Jordan Doyle reached on an error and Stephen Nobles was safe on a fielder’s choice. That loaded the bases for Phillips, who hit the ball down the rightfield line for his first triple.
Seminole batted around and scored two more runs in the inning to go ahead 5-0. The final run of the inning came on a balk. Cambridge coach Sam Marsonek came out to argue the call and was ejected.
The lead was more than enough for Doyle, who threw a no-hitter and struck out 12.
“I don’t think I had my best stuff, but I still did well,” said Doyle, who was named pitching MVP of the tournament. “I threw a lot of pitches in the first inning. But I had good velocity, threw strikes and was able to get through some quick innings after that.”
In the fifth inning, Seminole added two more runs by taking advantage of a throwing error. Phillips had a run-scoring triple in the sixth then came home on a single by pinch-hitter Chris Berry.
The Warhawks had eight hits. Atkinson, who went 2-for-4 in the championship game, was named hitting MVP of the tournament. In two games, Seminole outscored opponents a combined 19-0.
“I’m proud of the way the team played this week,” Seminole coach Jeff Pincus said. “But we’re not ready yo hit cruise control just yet. There still are some things we can work on. We’re just looking to get better each day.”