• Photo Showcase: Nebraska state baseball tournament Saturday

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LINCOLN — Unlikely?

That's not strong enough.

Improbable?

Well, we're getting there.

How about unbelievable?

That's the word Omaha Gross coach Mike Filipowicz used to describe his team's march to capture the Class B state baseball tournament.

The Cougars became the first team to lose its first game in the double-elimination tournament and then rattle off six straight wins to nail down the championship. Gross capped its comeback by defeating top-ranked Omaha Skutt twice on Saturday at Sherman Field, winning the first game 3-1 and the second game 6-0.

“That was absolutely unbelievable,” Filipowicz said. “A couple of weeks ago, I wasn't even sure we'd be in the tournament.”

The Cougars (15-14) can point to two major factors in their ability to repeat as state champions. The first was the strong pitching performances they received Saturday from Joe Foral and Paul Rosales, and the second was the assist from Mother Nature that pushed back the scheduled Class B final from Thursday to Saturday.

Those rain delays gave Gross and its weary pitching staff a few days reprieve, and the Cougars took advantage against the SkyHawks — who entered Saturday at 3-0 in the tournament and in need of just one victory.

After Foral tossed a three-hitter in the first game Saturday to keep Gross alive, Rosales took it from there. Pitching on two days' rest, he threw a one-hit masterpiece in the championship to give the Cougars their sixth title while denying the 20-9 SkyHawks their first.

“This is the first time I've ever pitched on two days' rest,” the senior said. “I would have pitched on one day's rest if they needed me yesterday.”

The key inning for Rosales was the first, when he walked the first two Skutt batters. That prompted a visit from Filipowicz, who knew that he had to get more out of his starter.

“He just told me to go after them,” Rosales said. “So that's what I tried to do.”

Rosales got out of the inning without any damage when Corey Stringer flew out, Ryan Leonardo struck out and Graham Conlon flew out to center fielder Tony Nelson.

“That first inning was huge,” Filipowicz said. “I thought Paul struggled to find his release point the first few innings, but then he really settled down.”

The Cougars then grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, sending eight batters to the plate against SkyHawks starter Jon Keck. Carter Gall drove in one run with a double and catcher Jon Negley followed with a two-run single to right.

“We knew our backs were against the wall every game after that first loss,” said Gall, who scored three of the Cougars' six runs. “But we kept getting great pitching performances, and I think that really gave us a lot of confidence.”

Gross added to its lead in the fourth when Luke Cunningham belted an RBI double and eventually came around to score on an infield error. That hit also must have seemed like a good omen to the Cougars because Cunningham was batting .130 entering the tournament.

Skutt got its only hit in the bottom of the fourth when Zach Barton singled to left. But a fielder's choice groundout and a strikeout ended the SkyHawks' inning.

The Cougars got their final run in the fifth when Gall was safe on an error and then came home three batters later when Thomas Jurgensen walked with the bases loaded.

That was more than enough support for Rosales, who allowed just one base­runner after the fourth inning. Skutt pinch hitter Justin Lange reached on an infield error with two out in the seventh, but Spenser Masching grounded out to Foral at first to end the game.

“There's not a lot to say,” SkyHawks coach Keith Engelkamp said. “The hitting gods weren't with us today. We just couldn't get anything going.”

Since the double-elimination tourney format was adopted in 1999, only two teams — Omaha Westside in 1999 and Omaha Burke in 2000 — have come back to win twice on championship day. Gross is the first team to lose its opener and accomplish the feat, though the Cougars did have the benefit of the two off days because of rain.

“To step up at the biggest moment, on the biggest stage, was just so amazing by our guys,” Filipowicz said. “To win the title after losing our first game seems like nothing short of a miracle.”

Om. Gross.....................030 210 0 — 6 8 1
Om. Skutt..............................000 000 0 — 0 1 3
• W: Rosales. L: Keck. 2B: OG, Foral, Gall, Cunningham.

Om. Gross 3, Om. Skutt 1

The Cougars rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to hand the SkyHawks their first tournament loss.

Luke Cunningham and Thomas Jurgensen reached base safely on infield errors to open the inning, and Tony Nelson followed with a sacrifice. Dylan Travis then belted a two-run single to right field to put Gross on top.

Travis stole second and came home on a run-scoring single by Paul Rosales.

Joe Foral got the pitching win for the Cougars, tossing a complete-game three-hitter. Brett Swain, who also allowed just three hits, took the loss for the SkyHawks.

Om. Skutt.......................000 010 0 — 1 3 2
Om. Gross...........................000 003 x — 3 3 0
• W: Foral. L: Swain. 2B: OS, Schlecht.

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