LEBANON, Tenn. - With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, the bases full and a 2-2 count, Cameron Costo ripped a high fly to center field.
"This is the best experience of my life," the junior exclaimed after that high fly - a sacrifice in the scorebook - scored the only run of the game Tuesday night as underdog McCallie upended Briarcrest Christian.
The Blue Tornado advance to today's winners-bracket final against Brentwood Academy, a 7-0 winner over Pope John Paul II. That game is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. EDT at Wilson Central High.
In the seventh, McCallie's Dane Beard singled to center and advanced to third on a two-base throwing error. Pinch-hitter Kahler Youngblood walked and eventually stole second before Chuck Marsh walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Costo worked the count to 2-1, then swung at a high fastball to even it at 2-2. He then hit a fastball deep enough into center field to score Beard.
"I had been looking for curveballs and (reliever Zach Lewallen) kept throwing fastballs," Costo recalled. "I was just thinking hit one over the shortstop's head. I got inside of (a fastball) and was able to get on it."
The RBI capped a sensational night for the Blue Tornado, who had been suspect even to get to the Spring Fling, much less win a game once here.
"Even I didn't think we'd make it here," Costo admitted.
"I never lost hope," added Vanderbilt-bound Corbin Brooksbank, the winning pitcher. "Not many people thought we'd make it here. But I had a pretty good game and the defense played a great game. With what we've overcome this year, how could I not be confident?"
Brooksbank, who threw a no-hitter earlier this year against Montgomery Bell Academy, felt this was his best game of the year.
"This was easily my best outing of the year," he said. "My cutter was on and my (velocity) was up."
In the complete-game four-hitter, he walked none and struck out 11.
"He had command of all three pitchers – fastball, cutter and curve – and he was filling up the zone," McCallie coach Tim Costo praised.
He also had a kind word for his son.
"(Cameron) has put together three or four good weeks here toward the end of the season, and getting that sacrifice fly was huge for that kid," the coach said.
McCallie improved to 21-13-1 at the expense of Alabama-committed pitcher Connor Shamblin, who took the loss despite allowing just five hits while striking out seven.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.