The Etowah baseball team had only one thing on its mind following last year’s loss to Mobile Christian in the Class 4A state baseball finals.

“Revenge tour,” senior Caleb Freeman said. “That was our only goal.”

Mission accomplished.

Freeman pitched a complete game Wednesday night as the Blue Devils rallied from an early deficit to beat UMS-Wright 5-1 at Jacksonville State’s Jim Case Stadium, sweeping the best-of-three finals and winning the school’s first state title since 1996.

“Going through that loss last year made us work even harder,” said Game 1 starter and series MVP Jameson Scissum. “It made us get to the weight room at 6 and kept up us practicing until 8 at night. It brought us closer together. We faced adversity all year, and we showed the ability to overcome it.”

Etowah (30-11) beat UMS 6-1 on Tuesday night behind Scissum but trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the fourth on Wednesday. The Blue Devils tied the game on Briggs Freeman’s sacrifice fly to second base – yes, second base – and took the lead for good on pinch-hitter Conner Dingler’s two-run single.

They added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Freeman scattered seven hits and allowed just the one run. He struck out six and walked four.

This post will be updated