KEIZER The No. 1-ranked Grant Union Prospectors were crowned the 2A/1A state baseball champions on Friday after a tense, low-scoring victory over Umpqua Valley Christian at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.

The 2-0 championship win was the first of five title games played in the 4,000-fan stadium last weekend.

Its like a dream come true, said senior Jordan Ackerman. This is what all of the seniors have been working on for four years not many people get this opportunity.

Despite battling from behind on the count all game, Prospector Lane Williams put forth another admirable show, tallying nine strikeouts and four hits in six and one-third innings.

Williams threw a great game, and kept three hitters off balance, said Brian Delaney, Grant Unions head coach.

After four scoreless innings from both teams, Grant Unions David DesJardin broke the ice in the top of the fifth. DesJardin, the ninth batter in the order, saw the opportunity of a lifetime as Soren Larson walked and Matt Manitsas hit a sacrifice bunt to put Larson in scoring position with two outs.

As the announcers were still trying to decide how to pronounce his name, DesJardin connected with an inside breaking ball for the second hit of the day.

Both teams rose to the top step of their dugouts and the fans leapt from their seats as the ball skipped between second and first base.

The race was on as Larson headed for home, trying to beat the low bullet of a throw to home. The umpire signaled Larson was safe, and the crowd and the Prospector dugout exploded with excitement for Grant Unions 1-0 advantage over the Monarchs.

Umpqua Valley Christian pitcher Jake Forrester, who allowed two hits on the game in four and a half innings, got a visit on the mound from his coaching staff but they stuck with him in the Monarchs effort to mount a comeback.

Until the bottom of the fifth, neither team was able to put their lead-off batter on base. That trend ended as the Monarchs lead-off batter Bryant Perez hit a single just over the grass line.

The Monarchs managed to load the bases, but good fielding by the Prospectors and stellar pitching from Williams stopped their momentum and left three runners on base.

They are a very good team, and we knew that in order to them we had to be near perfect, and we were, said Delaney.

In the top of the sixth, the Prospectors took advantage of the minor-league fields larger area between home plate and the backstop, as Jordan Ackerman scored on a wild pitch to put the Prospectors ahead 2-0. With nearly 10 additional feet behind the catcher, Ackerman had no trouble beating the throw home.

In the bottom of the seventh, Delaney made the call to relieve Williams from the mound. The crowd gave Williams a standing ovation as Dalton Reimers trotted to the mound.

The Monarchs found some breaks and managed to put runners on second and third. With one out and the Monarchs No. 1 batter, Forrester, two deep in the order, the Prospectors desperately needed a stop.

Reimers let a fastball fly, and the resulting crack of the bat silenced the crowd. The ball soared into the sky just over the pitchers mound, escaping the reach of Reimers mitt. But second baseman Kody Nelson made a spectacular diving catch the play of the game to make the second out.

It was the most spectacular catch I have ever seen, said Delaney.

With two outs, the Monarchs had just one batter ahead of Forrester, who was perfect for the day. The batter hit the ball a high fly ball into center field.

As Ackerman gloved the fly, the players rushed the field, piling up in a mound to celebrate their state win. It was the first state championship since 2005, and their first under Delaneys coaching.

It is an amazing feeling to win the last game, he said.

Ending their season with a 23-3 overall record and a 10-0 league record the Prospectors celebrate their first 1A/2A title in history.

The boys played their best team ball, and defensive baseball when it mattered most, said Delaney. They are an amazing group of guys who love the game, and play it right.