The Staples boys’ baseball team defeated Southington 3-0 in the Class LL state championship game on June 8. The Wreckers claimed their second state title in three years.

Duke-commit Chad Knight ’19 led the team by pitching a complete game, 3-hit shutout.

Kevin Rabacs ’19 said he will never forget the feeling of winning.

“Winning states was really incredible,” Rabacs said. “After so many years of playing with some of my best friends and working for this, to end up with a state championship with this special group was the perfect way to go out.”

Rabacs was responsible for breaking the 0-0 tie in the fourth inning, when his sacrifice fly scored Andrew Moy ’19.

Although many credit the teams’ success to it seniors, shortstop Moy believes the team will continue to thrive next year.

“There are three really good returning starters who will be able to lead the younger guys and the team,” Moy said. “We also have a lot of young talent in the pitching staff that have gotten experience this year, so they should be more comfortable next year.”

Zach Zobel scored the second run, advancing home on an overthrow from a pick-off attempt to third base.

Afterward, a passed ball allowed Rabacs to score the third and final run of the game.

Blake Lawrence ’20 believes that the team’s relationship with each other was one of the defining factors in winning both the FCIAC and state championships.

“This team probably had the best chemistry of any team I’ve ever been on,” Lawrence said. “The leadership on this team was like nothing I’ve seen before, and for that reason we were able to make some great runs this year and come away with two rings.”