JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Atlantic Coast Stingrays dominated Englewood 15-0 in eight innings to claim the 2024 Gateway Conference Baseball Championship.
Senior pitcher Chris Grant pitched a complete game while only giving up three hits, leading to the shutout victory.
"I'm just lost for words. Never thought I'd be in this position at AC," said Grant. "It's all about my team and coaching staff. They put it together, we worked as one, and believed in each other."
In just year one as the head coach, Chris Laufman has turned around the Atlantic Coast baseball program as last season they only had six wins, and now they are a championship-caliber team.
"These guys had a tough year last year, more even in this tournament," said Laufman. "They've believed. We've been working at this since August, and it's been slow. We've had our bumps in the road and move forward. But this is a special group of kids. They love each other. They take care of each other. Can't put it into words."
The Stingrays are now 15-6 on the season.