A year ago, the Naturchem Invitational proved to be the highlight of an abbreviated spring sports season.

Covid-19 restrictions would shortly shut down any high school athletics planned for the remainder of the school year.

On Wednesday, the tournament looks to serve as a starting point to a exciting completed season. This year’s final finds River Bluff back for a 2nd straight year after going 3-0 in tournament play and winning by a margin of 35-4.

The Gators played host in the final to Blythewood, coached by former Lexington player and assistant coach Banks Faulkner. Ironically, Faulkner would have been zoned to play for River Bluff if the school was created during his time with the Wildcats.

Blythewood also went 3-0, but beat out a 3rd undefeated team in defending champion Lexington for the spot in the final based on the runs allowed tiebreaker.

The full results from the championship game and final Invitational games at River Bluff, Lexington and Airport high schools are available at www.lexingtonchronicle.com .

While White Knoll and Airport did not make the final, it provided argubly the best game of the tournament. The Eagles jumped out to a 8-1 lead on its homefield when the Timberwolves scored 8 runs in their last at-bat to pull off the 9-8 victory.