Morris struck out a batter for the second out. After an intentional walk, Morris stranded the bases loaded on a grounder to second base.

Morris was also a character in the bottom of the 10th inning, leading off with a walk in his only second at-bat of the season. He was supposed to take a 3-2 pitch but fouled it off before drawing ball four.

Montgomery came on to run for Morris and Booker put down a bunt, just hoping to move Montgomery to second base. The throw to first base got away and Montgomery kept racing around to third base. Booker moved up to second base on the same error, followed by Clark taking an intentional walk.

The first pitch to Stags two-hole hitter Henry Rivers sailed past the catcher to the backstop, allowing Montgomery to bring the curtains down on the epic showdown and sending the home fans into a frenzy.

Morris earned the win in relief, recording five outs. He gave up one hit and struck out two batters.

“They pitched their hearts out,” Cox said of Gaskins and Morris. “They laid it all on the line. For that to be the last time Gavin Gaskins leaves the mound on this field, what an incredible job by a senior.”

Morris was also the pitcher of record in Berkeley’s 8-6 victory over visiting North Myrtle Beach in the district championship game May 22. In that one, he hurled 3.2 innings to record the win after the Stags rallied from a 6-1 deficit.

“We’re really a scrappy team,” Morris said. “…. It’s these fans. We never give up.”

Nash absorbed the loss for Catawba Ridge, which dropped to 23-10-1.

The Copperheads’ Glauber and designated hitter Caden Howard were the only two players on either squad to tally multiple hits, going 2-for-4. The two teams combined for seven errors.

“Everybody has been doubting us all season,” Morris said. “I think we had maybe one person pick us to win this game tonight. (Glauber) is a really good guy. He just shut us down all game, but we kept it close and worked as hard as we could. We finally got in there and got it all.”