Italy Gladiator Baseball wraps up district with win over Itasca for Senior Night

Image: Italy Gladiator Clay Riddle(9) slides safely home off a wild-pitch thrown by Itasca as teammate Eli Garcia(3) stays clear.

Italy Gladiator Clay Riddle(9) slides safely home off a wild-pitch thrown by Itasca as teammate Eli Garcia(3) stays clear. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator pitcher Levi McBride(1) gives Italy a leg up against Itasca.

Italy Gladiator pitcher Levi McBride(1) gives Italy a leg up against Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator catcher Garrett Janek(17) rises and fires a ball to second-base.

Italy Gladiator catcher Garrett Janek(17) rises and fires a ball to second-base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Micah Escamilla(4) is escorted by his parents, Frank Escamilla and Tressie Starr Escamilla for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony.

Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Micah Escamilla(4) is escorted by his parents, Frank Escamilla and Tressie Starr Escamilla for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator first-baseman Clay Riddle(9) lays out to secure the catch for an out against Itasca.

Italy Gladiator first-baseman Clay Riddle(9) lays out to secure the catch for an out against Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Austin Crawford(20) starts a 6-run rally for the Gladiators to help lead Italy to victory!

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Austin Crawford(20) starts a 6-run rally for the Gladiators to help lead Italy to victory! (Barry Byers)

Image: Austin Crawford(20) receives that symbolic fist bump from assistant coach Mitchell Blake for a job well done after his team rallying single.

Austin Crawford(20) receives that symbolic fist bump from assistant coach Mitchell Blake for a job well done after his team rallying single. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Levi Gladiator(1) is escorted by his parents, Darlene and Darrell McBride for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony.

Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Levi Gladiator(1) is escorted by his parents, Darlene and Darrell McBride for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator Ryan Connor(7) swings a message to Itasca, “Look out, here come the Gladiators!”

Italy Gladiator Ryan Connor(7) swings a message to Itasca, “Look out, here come the Gladiators!” (Barry Byers)

Image: Slide Fail! Micah Escamilla(4) demonstrates the improper way to slide into home base. The effort may have lacked style points but the run counted for the Gladiators just the same. Great job, Micah!

Slide Fail! Micah Escamilla(4) demonstrates the improper way to slide into home base. The effort may have lacked style points but the run counted for the Gladiators just the same. Great job, Micah! (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Clayton Miller(6) is escorted by his mother, Jennifer McKinney Walls, for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony.

Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Clayton Miller(6) is escorted by his mother, Jennifer McKinney Walls, for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator Levi McBride(1) muscles a hit past the Wampus Cat infielders.

Italy Gladiator Levi McBride(1) muscles a hit past the Wampus Cat infielders. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Ryan Connor(7) is escorted by his parents, Amanda and Scott Connor for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony.

Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Ryan Connor(7) is escorted by his parents, Amanda and Scott Connor for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan Connor(7) trots in for a Gladiator run.

Ryan Connor(7) trots in for a Gladiator run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Attaboy! Micah Escamilla(4) demonstrates the proper way to cross home plate, scoring another run for the Gladiators!

Attaboy! Micah Escamilla(4) demonstrates the proper way to cross home plate, scoring another run for the Gladiators! (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Ty Windham(12) is escorted by his parents, Andi and Joe Windham, for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony.

Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Ty Windham(12) is escorted by his parents, Andi and Joe Windham, for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy shortstop Ryan Connor(7) covers second-base to catch and tag an Itasca runner out who was caught in a rundown.

Italy shortstop Ryan Connor(7) covers second-base to catch and tag an Itasca runner out who was caught in a rundown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Run Clayton, run! Italy’s Clayton Miller(6) and his Gladiator teammates were playing on another field in a third dimension against Itasca.

Run Clayton, run! Italy’s Clayton Miller(6) and his Gladiator teammates were playing on another field in a third dimension against Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Hunter Merimon(8) is escorted by his mother, Michelle Parker Merimon, for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony.

Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Hunter Merimon(8) is escorted by his mother, Michelle Parker Merimon, for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator second-baseman Eli Garcia(3) warms up between innings.

Italy Gladiator second-baseman Eli Garcia(3) warms up between innings. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Ty Windham(12) is escorted by his parents, Heidi and Phillip Crawford, for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony.

Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Ty Windham(12) is escorted by his parents, Heidi and Phillip Crawford, for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony. (Barry Byers)

Image: Micah Ecamilla(4) looks on as fellow senior Ty Windham(12) high steps his way across home plate to complete Italy’s 2016 district campaign with a 14-1 win over Itasca.

Micah Ecamilla(4) looks on as fellow senior Ty Windham(12) high steps his way across home plate to complete Italy’s 2016 district campaign with a 14-1 win over Itasca. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Jorge Galvan(11) is escorted by his parents for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony.

Senior Italy Gladiator Baseball member Jorge Galvan(11) is escorted by his parents for Senior Night during a post-game ceremony. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator Hunter Merimon(8) shows the wears of a grueling regular season as he and his senior teammates win their final district game with a 14-3 win over Itasca.

Senior Gladiator Hunter Merimon(8) shows the wears of a grueling regular season as he and his senior teammates win their final district game with a 14-3 win over Itasca. (Barry Byers)

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