INMAN, S.C. – A spot in the 3A District II championship game hung in the balance on Monday night when Chapman collided with the West Oak Warriors at Mabry Park.
A rally in the late innings came up short, as West Oak held off Chapman by a final margin of 6-4. In the sixth inning, West Oak broke a tie with a three-run homer to left field, taking a 6-3 lead at that juncture of the contest. In their final turn at bat, the Panthers looked to come up with another late charge. Walt Waddell smoked a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall for a solo home run, cutting the deficit to two. The next three batters – Kole Brown, Johann Rodriguez, and Jake Murray – reached on a walk, error, and a base hit, respectively, to load the bases with one out. “That home run (by West Oak) really changed the complexion of the game,” said Chapman head coach Steven Fusaro. “Right there at the end, we had a chance with the bases loaded, one out, down by two. I’ll take that every time that we get it. Today, the line drive just didn’t go our way.” West Oak managed to escape the jam in the last frame, recording the final two outs of the game by way of a strikeout and fly out to left field. Chapman (18-8) will host Blue Ridge (18-9) in an elimination game on Wednesday evening, where the winner will travel to West Oak on Friday for the District II Championship. Game time is scheduled for 6 PM. “The last one (against Blue Ridge) was a marathon,” Fusaro stated. “I don’t expect anything different. I expect our guys to be ready to compete. I’m eager to see our guys show up here on Wednesday and see how they respond.” -Justin Mathis INMAN, S.C. – The last time that anyone saw a high school baseball or softball playoff game was in 2019 but on Friday evening, the “third season” began for a number of teams across the Palmetto State and the game in Inman, SC made the wait well worth it.
It was a battle of big cats as the Blue Ridge Tigers and Chapman Panthers met in the opening game of the 3A District II playoffs. With the game hanging in the balance, a decision in the late stages paid off, as Chapman squeezed out an 11-10 victory over Blue Ridge in 10 innings. With runners on the corners and one out in the 10th, Walt Waddell approached the dish. On the first pitch, Waddell squared around and dropped a bunt down near the mound. Jarren Metcalf took off on contact and slid across home plate ahead of the throw for the winning run. “From the seventh inning on,” Chapman head coach Steven Fusaro said. “I felt like I was going to have a heart attack… I’m almost in tears because I’m so proud of these guys. We have a mantra, ‘State on three’. Number one is the relationships with each other and with God. Number two is to make memories and they made some of those tonight. Number three is to win championships. This team has so much heart and I’m so blessed to be their coach.” “It was either drive (Jarren) in or squeeze him in,” Waddell stated. “We had tried something similar earlier in the game, but it didn’t work out. I got a pitch and did all I could do to get the bunt down. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked.” The Tigers broke the deadlock in their half of the frame, when a pair of wild pitches allowed Lewis and Bryce Roddey to sprint home and claim a 10-8 advantage. In the bottom half, Landon Solesbee notched a two-run single, which drove in Banks Atkins and Devin Roe, tying the score at 10-all. Earlier in the game, Blue Ridge had staked themselves out to a 7-0 lead, which included a David Lewis two-run homer and Braden Hairston two-run single. The Panthers broke through in the third on a Jacob Murray two-run double, cutting the deficit to five. In the next frame, Ricky Montalvo hit a one-out Grand Slam to left, making it a 7-6 contest. “It was tough early,” Montalvo admitted. “We stayed focused, had high energy, believed in each other and what we’re capable of doing. (Murray) provided a big spark with the double. My approach was to score by getting a base hit, honestly. I wanted to pass the baton to Johann (Rodriguez) behind me in the order and keep it going.” Two Panther pitchers, Gavin Humphries and Jacob Cogdell, were able to enter the game in relief and combined to hold the Tigers to three runs in six-plus innings of work. “I just wanted to pound the zone, throw strikes, and try to get ground balls or pop-ups,” Humphries remarked. “My breaking ball felt really good today and my fastball was moving well. I just want to do whatever it takes to help my team win, no matter the role. It’s about putting the team first and yourself behind them.” “I just wanted to do my job and keep us in the game,” Cogdell added. “It means a lot that they are willing to trust me in big situations, like what they put me in tonight. I had to stay mentally strong and do it for my teammates behind me. We definitely had situations where we could’ve won it earlier, but in the end, we came through and won.” Chapman (18-7) will host the winner of the Fairfield Central/West Oak contest on Monday evening. Game time was TBA when this story was published. -Justin Mathis INMAN, S.C. – Friday night may have been the season finale for the Chapman softball team, but for senior Abbe Miller, it was a chance to close out her high school career with a bang.
Miller and her teammates were locked in at the plate, striking early and often on the way to a 19-2 victory over Region II-4A champion Greer in five innings, earning a season sweep over the Yellow Jackets. After falling behind by a run, Chapman answered in their half of the first inning by sending 10 batters to the dish and scoring four runs. During the frame, Miller drew a walk and stole second, which turned into a double steal as Sarah Grace Byrd scored from third. The Lady Panthers tacked on three more runs in the frame for a 4-1 lead. Chapman posted three more multi-run innings, plating four runs in the second, along with five in the third and six in the fourth inning, respectively. “She has really stepped into a leadership position,” head coach Chelsie Skinner stated. “For some players, they don’t always fill that role when they become seniors. She really has become a true leader on this team. She’s taken some of the younger ones under her wing and helped them, whether it’s at practice, games, or even in the weight room. I’m super, super proud of the way she has been a leader on this team.” Miller didn’t record an official at-bat during her final game, but used her veteran instincts to draw three walks, while also reaching on a hit-by-pitch and recording two stolen bases. In the fifth inning, Miller moved from behind the plate to second base during her last turn playing defense. After the final out was recorded, the team and coaches embraced Miller in the middle of the field and celebrated her time as a member of the softball program. “Heading into the game,” Miller said. “I was nervous, but to be able to come out here and step on the field one last time with my girls meant the world to me. All of the girls kept me going tonight, whether it was cheers or chants, even from the other team. My time (at Chapman) has been unbelievable, unreal, and almost like a dream.” Chapman finishes the 2021 campaign at 9-9 overall, but returns a core led by three rising seniors and a number of rising juniors. -Justin Mathis INMAN, S.C. – For the entire 2021 season, the Chapman baseball team has played their home games at Mabry Park, where the original Panther Field resides. On Tuesday evening, another chapter was written on that field.
On this night, it was a late inning spark that powered the Panthers past the Clinton Red Devils by a final tally of 7-3, winning the Region III-3A championship. For Chapman, this marks their second region crown in as many full seasons and their 12th straight victory. With the score deadlocked at three entering the sixth inning, the Panthers led off with a trio of bunt singles from Devin Roe, Landon Solesbee, and Jarren Metcalf, respectively, to load the bases with none out. “We have tons of respect for Clinton,” Chapman head coach Steven Fusaro said. “I know Coach McCarthy from when they used to be in our region – his teams take on his personality and battle. It was a total team effort tonight and I’m so proud of our guys. Hats off to Clinton and the way they play the game.” Next up was senior Banks Atkins, who drilled a RBI single to left, which drove in Roe and gave Chapman the lead. Solesbee later came in to score on a wild pitch, Metcalf touched home on a passed ball, and Atkins scored on a Johann Rodriguez sacrifice bunt, giving the Panthers a four run advantage. “My teammates did a great job,” Atkins stated. “We had those three straight bunt singles where they couldn’t make a play, so I had no pressure coming up to bat. Every child dreams of being at bat with the bases loaded. The greatest part is seeing all the hard work that’s put in all year pay off and being able to win the region championship.” On the mound, junior Ricky Montalvo was tagged for three runs in the third inning, but responded well by keeping the Red Devils out of the hit column over the last four frames. “Honestly, I just wanted to do better for my team,” Montalvo remarked. “In the first couple of innings, I didn’t have my best stuff, but then I started focusing on my catcher (Rodriguez), who was up to bat, and where to locate the next pitch. I just needed to throw strikes and let them hit the ball because I know my defense is always behind me and has my back.” “It’s so fitting that we have (Banks and Ricky),” Fusaro added. “They’ve been dynamite on the mound for us and same thing at the plate. Banks has really come on at the plate and Ricky’s been hitting in the middle of the order all year. There’s no doubt in my mind that (Ricky) is Region Player of the Year.” “I think the last time we won a region title on this field was my sophomore year. This ain’t about me, though. It’s about these boys and it’s been unbelievable watching them play the game.” Chapman (17-6, 9-0 Region III-3A) will travel Clinton on Friday evening in Region III-3A play. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 PM. -Justin Mathis |
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