Crystal River had four goals entering the season and marked two more off its list with an 8-7 win against Citrus in Friday's championship game. The top-seeded Pirates (26-4) won their second district title in a row and will host a first-round playoff game Tuesday against St. Augustine (20-7).
Third-seeded Citrus (14-16) will travel to St. Augustine Nease (17-11), which beat St. Augustine in Thursday's Class 3A, District 5 final.
The Hurricanes led 7-6 going into the bottom of the seventh, but the Pirates rallied. Crystal River also fought back against Williston in Thursday's semifinal to win 3-2 in the final inning.
"This team has so much character, they never say die and fight until the end," Pirates coach Brent Hall said.
The winning run scored when Darrel Brooks hit Ryan Pearson with the bases loaded.
William Bunch got the victory for the Pirates after coming in to start the seventh and retiring the side. He pitched most of Thursday's semifinal.
"My arm felt good, and I thought I could still do it," Bunch said. "When coach told me to go to the bullpen, I knew what I had to do."
Citrus appeared to take control in the sixth, when Robert Taylor hit a two-run home run to rightfield to tie the game at 6. The 'Canes took the lead when the Pirates could not field a hit by Keith Zigler.
"We battled and got ourselves back in the ballgame, which has been the character of this team," Citrus coach Jon Bolin said. "Taylor came up big with a two-run homer, and Ross Keesling caught a heck of a game and had a big hit (a run-scoring double in the fourth)."
Citrus starter Matt Sakowicz gave up two runs on two hits in 12/3 innings.
Crystal River starter Zac Cole went 52/3 innings and allowed five hits. EJ Gerrits was 2-for-4, including a seventh-inning single, and Tim Embree had two hits.
"Zac came in and pitched a great game and battled all night, and EJ Gerrits came up with a big hit," Hall said. "It takes a team effort and we did that."
