Miller fires gem, Aledo cruises to Texas 5A DI state baseball championship: live scoring, highlights, recap

Devin Miller pitched a complete game and Aledo's offense pounded 11 hits as team scored six runs over final three innings to claim second state title in program's history

Levi Payton | Jun 6, 2025

Aledo scored six runs in the final three innings and backed starter Devin MIller with 11 hits to win the Class 5A Division I state championship over Smithson Valley on Friday, June 6, 2025 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. / Robbie Rakestraw

Smithson Valley didn’t exactly come into the playoffs with a spotlight on its back. But here the Rangers are, one win away from their first state title in program history, and looking every bit the part of a team built for moments like this.

They’ll face a red-hot Aledo squad in Friday night’s Class 5A Division I state final at Dell Diamond, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. Both teams have had to earn their way here the hard way, with the Bearcats riding dominant pitching and a 10-deep playoff rotation to their first championship game appearance since 2015.

Smithson Valley’s path has been a little bumpier. The Rangers have dropped three playoff games, including two series openers, but have consistently found answers in elimination games. From a Game 3 walk-off against Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial to back-to-back wins over Palmview to escape the region finals, they’ve survived every test and now sit seven innings from history.

Aledo, meanwhile, is trying to reclaim the glory of its 2014 championship. Led by a balanced attack and a steady pitching staff that has posted four playoff shutouts, the Bearcats haven’t allowed a run in their last 13 innings. Junior slugger Lucas Nawrocki enters the final hitting over .500 and anchors a deep lineup that’s capable of stringing together runs in a hurry.

This one could come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes. Smithson Valley has proven it can scrap and claw in close games, while Aledo has the arms to control tempo and close the door late.

For more coverage from the state tournament in Round Rock, follow High School On SI – Texas for live updates, stats, highlights and full reports from every championship game this weekend.

Spring Branch Smithson Valley vs. Aledo: Texas 5A DI state baseball championship: live scoring, highlights, updates

NOTE: This game isn't expected to get started until around 8:30 p.m. It was scheduled for 7 p.m., but the Class 5A Division II championship didn't end until after 7:30.

Lineups

Aledo

Luke Gladchuk, LF; Blake Burdine, 3B; Landon Barnes, 2B; Lucas Nawrocki, DH; Luke Trager, RF; Dylan Duran, 1B; Nick Foster, SS; Brennon Evans, C; Brooks Burdine, CF; Devin Miller, P.

Spring Branch Smithson Valley

Blake Allen, SS; PK Moeller, CF; Bryce Wells, C; Aiden Verette, P; Cooper Gibson, 3B; Andrew Lunsford, DH; Luke Schroeder, RF; Trey Morgan, LF; Justin Fruscella, 2B, Gavin Parker, 1B.

Top 1: Aledo 0, Spring Branch Smithson Valley 0

We are finally underway at 8:41 p.m. Central time. This game was slated for 7 p.m.

Luke Gladchuk walked to lead off the game for Aledo. Six of the eight games in these state finals so far have started with a leadoff walk.

After Aiden Verette picked over to first base several times to try keeping Gladchuk honest, Gladchuk takes off and steals second with two outs.

RUN(s) - Lucas Nawrocki ripped an RBI single to right mere seconds after Gladchuck swiped second. Aledo 1-0.

Bottom 1: Aledo 1, Smithson Valley 0

The Rangers' first turn at bat was a wild one. Blake Allen was credited with a leadoff single (a throw to first on a routine grounder to short was well offline, allowing him to reach) but the ball sailed past the first baseman and toward the first base dugout. Allen briefly broke toward second on the errant throw before seeing the ball bounce off the wall and roll back toward first. It appeared he realized he'd committed himself toward second and was now caught in no-man's land. He tried to scramble back to first, but it was too late. The ball made it back to the first baseman and he tagged Allen out before he could make it back to the bag for the first out of the inning.

PK Moeller followed with a single.

RUN(s) - After PK Moeller singled and stole second base with one out, Bryce Wells drove him in with an RBI single to tie the game 1-1.

Top 2: Aledo 1, Smithson Valley 1

Aledo's Dylan Duran walked and Nick Foster followed with a single to give Aledo runners at first and second with nobody out.

RUN(s) - Brennon Evans reached on a fielder's choice, then he and Foster pulled off a perfect double steal, with Foster sliding around a tag at home with Aledo's second run. Aledo 2-1.

A pop fly ended the inning with runners at second and third.

Bottom 2: Aledo 2, Smithson Valley 1

It's a quick 1-2-3 inning for Aledo starter Devin Miller. He got a grounder, strikeout and fly ball in a perfect frame.

Top 3: Aledo 2, Smithson Valley 1

Lucas Nawrocki picked up his second hit of the game, another single, but Aiden Verette pitched out of it and ended the inning with a fielder's choice and a strikeout.

Bottom 3: Aledo 2, Smithson Valley 1

With two outs in the inning, Smithson Valley's PK Moeller was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw.

Aledo pitcher Devin Miller pitched out of the jam, painting an 88 mph fastball on the outside corner to catch Bryce Wells looking to end the inning. Moeller was stranded at second.

Top 4: Aledo 2, Smithson Valley 1

Aiden Verette was rolling in the fourth. He coaxed a grounder to shortstop and a pair of fly balls for another three-up, three-down inning.

Bottom 4: Aledo 2, Smithson Valley 1

Devin Miller breezed through another quick inning, using six pitches to get three outs. The Rangers weren't in the mood to see many pitches in that inning.

Top 5: Aledo 2, Smithson Valley 1

Luke Gladchuk tripled to the wall in deep right field to lead off the inning for Aledo.

RUN(s) - Verette got two quick outs with Gladchuk standing on third before Lucas Nawrocki drove a triple into the gap in left center to score Gladchuk. Aledo, 3-1. It was Aledo's second triple of the inning.

Verette's day ended after Nawrocki's triple. He exits to an ovation from the Rangers' crowd with a runner at third and two outs in the top of the fifth. Adam De Hoyos is in to pitch in relief.

RUN(s) - Luke Trager hit a grounder deep in the hole at short and beats the throw to first. The infield single scored Nawrocki from third and swelled Aledo's lead to 4-1.

Bottom 5: Aledo 4, Smithson Valley 1

Luke Schroeder was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the fifth and Trey Morgan singled to put to on with nobody out. After a grounder moved them to third, Blake Allen hit a slow tapper up the third base line and there was no play to be made - loading the bases.

BIG CALL! After umpires made their presence felt with an obstruction call in an earlier game, the umpires make their presence felt again in this one as Smithson Valley loses a run and a potential big inning when the second base umpire ruled interference on a runner who slid into second on a double play attempt. Alas, the inning is over.

Top 6: Aledo 4, Smithson Valley 1

RUN(s) - Brennan Evans singled with one out and Brooks Burdine tripled off the very top of the wall in right - the longest hit in the state tournament thus far - to drive in Evans as Aledo added an insurance run. Aledo, 5-1.

Burdine was stranded at third thanks to a grounder on the infield and a strikeout to end the inning.

Bottom 6: Aledo 5, Smithson Valley 1

Devin Miller fired another perfect inning, letting his defense work with two grounders and a pop fly to keep the Rangers from posing another threat.

Top 7: Aledo 5, Smithson Valley 1

With Aledo hoping to pad its lead, Landon Barnes led off the seventh with a single to center. Nawrocki followed and pushed a bloop single up the third base line and both runners would pull off a successful double steal to put them in scoring position with nobody out.

Aledo loaded the bases when the next batter, Luke Trager, reached on a fielding error.

RUN(s) - Landon Barnes scored on a balk. Runners moved up to second and third with nobody out. Aledo, 6-1.

RUN(s) - Brennon Evans singled to left and a misplay in the outfield allowed two runs to score. Aledo has blown it wide open. It's 8-1.

Bottom 7: Aledo 8, Smithson Valley 1

Devin Miller worked around a leadoff walk and got three grounders to end it. Aledo wins the Class 5A Division I state championship with an 8-1 victory.

Final: Aledo 8, Smithson Valley 1

Miller (11-1) got the win after pitching a complete game, allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk in the historic outing. Lucas Nawrocki led Aledo's offense, going 4-for-4 with a triple, 2 RBI and scored a pair of runs. Brennon Evans had 2 hits, 2 RBI and scored a run.