The hot-hitting Fairmont Martins won the State Class “C” Amateur Baseball Championship for the second time in seven years with a 5-4 win over Elrosa in the title game Sunday in New Prague.
Player/manager Levi Becker had the crucial hit in the game, a bases-clearing double in the second inning. The Martins built a 5-1 lead, then held on as Elrosa scored three times in the seventh to close the margin. Spencer Chirpich, who was named the MVP and outstanding pitcher of the tournament, came in to keep the Saints off the board and give the Martins their fourth title. Fairmont has previously won state titles in 1930, 1959, and 2020.
Joey Crissinger led the Martins with 11 hits in 20 at-bats during the five tournament games and was given the award as the outstanding hitter of the tournament. Chirpich was the winning pitcher in the first three tournament games and got the save in the championship game. He gave up only two earned runs in 31 and a third innings during the tourney. Long time Martins pitcher Josh Smith got the win in the title game with four innings in relief.
Named to the All-Tournament team were Chirpich, Crissinger, Jon Traetow, and Luke Becker.