GLEN ALLEN — When First Colonial High named Scott Stubbe as its new baseball coach before the 2005 season, legendary coach Norbie Wilson, whom Stubbe replaced, knew the program would be in good hands.
He was right.
On Saturday, Stubbe, with Wilson in the dugout as an assistant, helped the Patriots beat Mills Godwin of Richmond 10-3 to win the Class 5 state title. It was the program’s first state championship since Wilson guided the Patriots to a title in 1993.
“It’s so special to be able to work with him every day and to give him another one,” Stubbe said about Wilson. “He was over here in tears and excited for these guys. He loves these guys just like he loved his team in ’93.”
Wilson, who joined Stubbe as an assistant in 2018, described the experience of being a part of another state title as “amazing.”
“I am so happy for Coach Stubbe and the boys. They made a great selection when they got him as a head coach, no doubt about it,” said Wilson, who retired from First Colonial in 2004 after guiding the Patriots to more than 400 victories, seven region crowns and 14 Beach District titles. “I’m glad to be around them. And these guys gave me a great ride.”
The Patriots got behind early as Mills Godwin took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
But First Colonial, which scored seven runs in the seventh inning one day before in the semifinals, bounced back with a huge second inning.
The first two batters walked. Grant Burns and Jaethan Inman followed with back-to-back RBI bunt singles.
That brought up Brady Gavin.
“Coach Stubbe came to talk to me and said I got one pitch before I’m bunting,” Gavin said, smiling. “I got a slider and I hit a triple. I’m happy I didn’t bunt.”
Gavin’s two-run triple broke the game open to give the Patriots a 4-1 lead.
First Colonial has a huge inning as the Patriots score eight runs on four hits, including this two-run triple by Brady Gavin. First Colonial 8, Mills Godwin 1 pic.twitter.com/t7L4OCYGqG
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) June 8, 2024
The Patriots added four more runs in the inning for a comfortable 8-1 lead. They added a run in the fifth and sixth as well.
First Colonial senior pitcher Brady Wilson did the rest as he held Mills Godwin to just three runs through six innings.
As he stepped on the field to start the seventh, he knew his pitch count was getting high.
“I wanted to be out there as long as I could,” he said. “I wanted to finish all seven innings.”
But he got a little nervous when time was called and the umpires gathered.
“I was like, ‘Are they going to pull me because I have too many pitches?'” he said. “I kind of got scared. Once I got (to pitch) to the next batter, I knew I could finish the job.”
So did Stubbe.
“He’s been our best strike thrower all year long. I knew with the lead that he could just keep putting balls in play and we’d have a great chance to win,” he said. “But he was at his limit and that was the last batter he was going to face.”
Wilson got the last batter to ground out to end the game.
“It was honestly indescribable,” Wilson said about getting the last out. “It was straight happiness with all of my teammates coming together and jumping on me. It was just crazy.”
Added Stubbe: “For him being a senior and this being his last game and he graduates this week, it can’t be a better ending for him.”
First Colonial pitcher Brady Wilson gets Gatorade bath pic.twitter.com/Zlx6gH3Zg7
— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) June 8, 2024
Afterward, several players talked about what the title and Coach Wilson meant to them.
“(Winning the title) means so much, not just for me, but for all of the coaches, including Norbie, who are still out here and haven’t experienced this in so long,” said Wilson, no relation to Coach Wilson. “He means so much to this team. He’s like our grandfather and I love him so much.”
Added Gavin: “I’ve known Norbie since I was a kid. He was a friend of my grandfather. I love having him out here, and he knows what he’s talking about.”
Stubbe, still speechless about what his team achieved, was thankful.
“All coaches put so much time and effort into what we’re doing,” he said. “For us to be able to get this done … I’m just so excited for them.”
⚾️STATE CHAMPS!🏆First Colonial 10, Mills Godwin 3. FINAL. Patriots win first @VHSL_ state title in more than 30 years. 🎥: @JamiVP. pic.twitter.com/q1ZBUUgy9z
— 757Teamz (@757teamz) June 8, 2024
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
