The Marist baseball team survived a late rally to win its first state championship, beating Tillamook 4-3 Saturday night at Roto Rooter Park in Keizer.

Marist’s Gianni Lombardi was selected player of the game as he earned the win, pitching 5 2/3 innings and striking out eight batters while also going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. 

“I can’t even explain to you the excitement that I have after losing two of the last three years,” Lombardi said. “Competitors want the ball, and I’m a competitor. Winning a championship was all I’ve ever dreamed about; it’s the greatest feeling of my life.”

Marist started the game hot, scoring three runs in the first inning. Lombardi opened the game with an RBI single and after an Alec Malpass single, Jalen Smith hit a triple to score Lombardi and Malpass for the early 3-0 lead. 

Tillamook’s starting pitcher, Kevin Hurliman, was pulled in the first inning after the barrage of runs. 

Tillamook battled back and put a scare in Marist by plating three runs in the top of the sixth and putting the tying run at second base.

Brock Cranmer struck out the final batter to end the rally and close the game. Jalen Smith went 3-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the Marist offense.

After faltering in back-to-back state championship games, the Spartans were on a mission to get the monkey off their back as they beat Philomath, Phoenix, Scappoose and Tillamook en route to the championship.

“The one thing this team has is moments didn’t get too big for them this year,” Marist head coach Noah Breslaw said. “Even when things started slipping in the sixth, I had guys that could come in and get the outs. It was never going to be easy; they were the 12 seed, but they still had to beat three really good teams to make it to the state title game.”

Gianni Lombardi started the game for Marist after recording the 4-1 victory over Scappoose. In that game, Lombardi pitched a complete game, leaving his pitching availability up in the air for Saturday.

“Gianni threw just shy of 80 pitches on Tuesday and today, and it was touch and go if my lefty was going to start and I was going to bring in Gianni to close,” Breslaw said. “Yesterday at practice, he wanted the ball and you put the ball in playmakers’ hands.”

This Marist team was built differently, with three players hitting over .500 during the playoff run. Jalen Smith batted .615, Alec Malpass batted .600, and Lombardi hit .545 to help out his own cause on the mound.  

In 2024, Marist made a surprise trip to the state championship before falling to Scappoose 5-4. The next year, they were the No. 1-ranked team in the state before falling to Nixyaawii Community in a stunning 14-3 defeat. 

This year’s team wasn’t going to let the past define them as they were hungrier than ever.

The team will graduate six seniors, with two going on to play collegiate baseball: Lombardi (Butler CC) and pitcher Luke Benkonvich (Whittier College).

“Ending the season on top means a lot and celebrating with this team, it’s perfect,” Benkonvich said. “I’m going to miss them all next year.”