Oleksik?s team falls at state

It?s been 14 years since George Oleksik celebrated a state high school baseball championship at MTSU?s Smith Field.

Unfortunately for the former Pioneer, he?ll have to wait at least one more spring to have a chance for another title.

Oleksik, the head coach of Chattanooga?s Notre Dame High School squad, saw his team?s postseason come to an end during pool play in the Class AA state championship tournament, as they fell to both University School of Jackson and Anderson County on Wednesday night.

With the losses, Notre Dame finished its season ? the third with Oleksik as head coach ? with a 28-13 record.

In eliminating the Irish with Wednesday night?s 10-3 victory, Anderson County gained a measure of revenge, as it had been sent to the losers? bracket Tuesday morning when Notre Dame won their first-round meeting 16-4.

That win sent Notre Dame into Wednesday?s second-round, where they took on USJ, and took a 3-0 lead in the fourth only to allow two more USJ runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Irish tied the game in the top of the sixth, but allowed the winning run in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch.

In what would prove to be their final game of the tourney, Notre Dame tied Anderson County 2-2 in the top of the fourth Wednesday night, but gave up seven runs in the bottom of that frame, allowing ACHS to take control for good.

The Irish played their portion of the tournament at Columbia State Community College. Pool play was scheduled to wrap up today at CSCC and Blackman High School, with the pool champs to meet for the Class AA championship Saturday afternoon at MTSU.