Tears welled up in Jackson Curry’s eyes before the final pitch was even thrown. The Ripley senior tried all day to keep his emotions in check, knowing this game would be his last in a Vikings uniform.
But after striking out Frankfort’s Lane Lease to seal a 5-0 shutout win and clinch the Class AAA state baseball championship Saturday at GoMart Park, he could no longer hold them back.
“I was trying not to be emotional all day,” Curry said. “But that last inning, I just couldn’t help it.”
Curry was masterful on the mound in his final outing, tossing a complete-game shutout. He allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out four, leading Ripley (27-3) to its first state title since 2004.
The Vikings didn’t waste time setting the tone. A five-run second inning gave them all the cushion they’d need, capping off a dominant state tournament run that included a 10-0 semifinal win over Winfield the day before.
In front of a huge crowd of loyal Ripley fans, the Vikings played with poise and power.
“You just can’t beat these guys,” said head coach Shane Casto. “From the players to the fans, the community — it’s all been incredible. A fireman even drove us to Charleston today. The support from the school, administration, mayor — it’s all been amazing.”
The Vikings racked up nine hits, seven of them in the decisive second inning. Bryson Casto led the way, going 2-for-4, while seven other players each chipped in with one hit.
“That’s how we’ve played all year,” Coach Casto said. “Top to bottom, we swing the bat. These guys love to hit, and they came up big again today.”
The big inning began with back-to-back hits from Peyton and Parker Keller. John Cummings opened the scoring with a single to right, followed by Eli Phalen’s double to the gap. Then Casto’s single drove in two more, and Landon Meadows added the final run with a base hit to left, making it 5-0.
Frankfort (23-9), last year’s Class AA state champion, brought experience to the field but couldn’t break through against Curry.
“We knew they weren’t going to quit,” Casto said. “They’re a tough team with guys who’ve been here before. But our guys kept their focus and finished the job.”
Curry’s fastball-slider combo kept the Falcons off balance. Though Frankfort had brief signs of life in the fourth and fifth innings, Ripley’s defense stood tall.
In the fifth, with two runners on, Curry forced a groundout to third baseman Parker Keller to escape the jam. From there, he locked in even further.
The final inning highlighted Ripley’s flawless fielding. Right fielder Kyler Doss made a running grab at the warning track for the first out.
Then, shortstop Bryson Casto, a West Virginia University commit, made a dazzling back-foot throw to retire a speedy runner at first. With the count full, Curry blew a fastball past Lease for the final out, triggering a wild dogpile celebration near the mound.
“My defense is the best in the state,” Curry said. “I truly believe that. They had my back the whole way.”
It was a storybook ending for Curry and the Vikings — a season of dominance sealed with a championship, cheered on by a devoted community.
“The Ripley fans are the best,” Curry said. “To do this for them is something I’ll never forget.”
