Apr. 15—ANDERSON — Saturday's Nick Muller Memorial Baseball Tournament championship game didn't feel so much like a passing of the torch as the completion of a hostile takeover.

There's no doubt who the top dogs in Madison County are now.

Lapel completed a dominant tournament run with an 11-4 victory against Madison-Grant in a title game matchup of the tournament's last two champions. In the process, the Bulldogs (6-2) became just the third team to claim consecutive county crowns — joining Pendleton Heights in 2013-14 and 2016-17.

It can also be argued Lapel has become the most legitimate threat to the Arabians' dominance in this event at least since Highland won its final championship in 2010.

The Bulldogs' three overall titles tie the Scots and Anderson for second place behind Pendleton Heights' nine. And Lapel's four championship-round appearances and two titles over the past six years equal the Arabians' output over the same stretch.

"It's outstanding," Bulldogs coach Matt Campbell said of the latest championship run. "I'm proud of them. They put in — like I said the other day — a ton of work in the offseason and got off to a great start in the season and also (Saturday's) game. Just proud of them. They did so well."

Lapel outscored its opponents 58-5 in its three tournament victories this week, and the championship game literally started off with a bang.

Senior Owen Imel launched the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning more than 410 feet over the fence in right-center field for his second lead-off homer in as many games.

It brought a roar from the Bulldogs' dugout and immediately set the tone for a seven-run opening outburst.

"Honestly, I was just looking for my pitch," Imel said. "I looked, saw (Argylls starter Braiden Ross) in the bullpen a little bit, found him out, saw his arm action, and I was like, 'All right, this is a guy we can go off early.' So I was kind of ready for it."

Freshman Camden Novak followed with a single, and Rylie Hudson was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a double steal before Isaac Bair launched a three-run homer to left field for a stunningly quick 4-0 lead.

And Lapel kept right on rolling.

Quentin Roberts drew a walk, and Cody Baker and Darl Gustin reached on consecutive bunt singles to load the bases.

When Kai Newman followed with a walk, the first eight Bulldogs had reached base and the lead grew to 5-0.

After a pop out to first base, Imel followed with a two-run double for his second hit of the inning before Madison-Grant (4-4) finally quelled the full-frontal assault.