Aledo Stuns McKinney North on Grand Slam, Advances to State Title Game

Down three runs with two outs and nobody on in the seventh inning, Aledo's season was teetering. McKinney North had led for most of the night and held a 5-2 advantage — one out away from forcing a decisive third game. Then Lucas Nawrocki got a pitch he liked and drove it over the right-field wall for a grand slam, turning a three-run deficit into a one-run lead in a matter of seconds.

McKinney North had come out aggressive in the series-deciding game, with Brooks Nelson lining one off the pitcher's leg that redirected past second base to spark an early rally. Connor Leos scored, and a passed ball allowed Austin Sayman to come across as well, giving the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead before Aledo could settle in.

The Bearcats chipped away in the sixth when Dylan Duran singled to left and Landon Barnes, getting a strong jump off second, raced around third and beat the tag to make it 4-2. But McKinney North answered to push the lead back to three heading into the final frame.

Nawrocki's grand slam — the defining moment of the night — gave Aledo a 6-5 lead and sent the dugout into a frenzy. In the bottom half, McKinney North put the tying run on third, but Garhett Love induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and close out the 7-6 victory.

Aledo advances to next week's state title game after one of the more dramatic series comebacks of the postseason.