INMAN, S.C. – Tuesday evening marked both the start of the 3A baseball playoffs across the Palmetto State and Senior Night for the Chapman Panthers, as they recognized Jarren Metcalf, Cason Owens, Jacob Cogdell, Devin Roe, Johann Rodriguez, and Jack Settle during a pregame ceremony.
Appropriately, it was the seniors who led the way and powered the Panthers to a 13-3 victory over the Woodruff Wolverines in five innings. The first three Panther batters – Hudson Moss, Roe, and Kole Brown – reached base on a double, walk, and fielders’ choice in the first inning. Moss raced home on a wild pitch, while Roe scored on a Wesley Shipman sacrifice bunt, staking Chapman to a 2-0 lead. “It’s not just this game (tonight), but it’s been throughout the last three years,” said Chapman head coach Steven Fusaro about the play of the seniors. “This group has been playing on varsity since they were sophomores. They made a ‘Cardiac Cats’ playoff run two years ago and then last year made a run to the state championship. It was a lot of fun to see them step out, be confident, not be fearful of the moment, and be exactly what they’re capable of being.” Woodruff took a one run lead in the third on a two-run Collin McAbee single and sacrifice bunt, but Chapman responded in their next at-bat with base hits by Roe and Rodriguez and a free pass to Brown to load the bases in the bottom of the frame. Shipman smacked a single to left that scored Roe while a Cason Owens sacrifice fly to center plated Brown for a 4-3 Chapman advantage. The Panthers put up a crooked number in the fourth, plating six runs in the inning. Hank Tolleson singled and later came around to score on a Roe sacrifice fly. Following a Wolverine error, the big hit of the frame came when Rodriguez sent the first pitch he saw over the left-centerfield wall for a two-run shot and a 7-3 Chapman lead. “You have to attack the opponent and put up as many runs as you can,” Rodriguez remarked. “I keep the same approach every at-bat no matter who is pitching. We stuck to our approach as a team and kept passing the baton one by one.” On the mound, Settle posted a solid outing as he held the Wolverines to three runs (two earned) while striking out four batters in four and two-thirds innings of work. The right-hander also helped his own cause with a two-run double in the fourth. “I just go out there and try to do my thing,” Settle stated. “I know that I can really trust my teammates behind me, which helps me throw strikes and do my job. When it was 5-3 and Johann hit that bomb, I started to feel more comfortable. I feel like we’re all locked in and ready to go make a run.” In the fifth, Roe touched home plate on a Rodriguez single to left. Following a Shipman base knock and intentional walk to Owens, which brought up Metcalf to bat with the bases loaded and only one out. The senior shortstop ended the game with a two-RBI double to centerfield, which invoked the mercy rule and provided the final margin. “I had told Cason that he was up (to bat) and said a base hit scores them,” recalled Metcalf. “They walked Cason and then I was up. I said to myself, ‘A base hit scores them.’ I had two strikes on me, so I just tried to hit it up the middle. We started out good tonight with Jack on the mound and Johann had the big bomb that really set the tone for the game.” At the plate, Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI, followed by Shipman with three hits, two runs batted in, and three runs scored. Roe was 1-for-1 with a single and RBI, but also reached base thrice and scored three runs. “It feels awesome (to get the win),” Rodriguez added. “With it being my senior year and the news about Coach Fusaro and Coach Settle leaving (at season's end), there’s nothing more that I want to do than to put a (state championship) ring on their hands.” Chapman (18-7) returns to action on Thursday with a road game against Belton-Honea Path. The game is slated for a 6:30 PM start. Spring sports playoff scoreboard and notes from Tuesday, May 2nd 3A Girls’ Soccer playoffs – Chapman 8, Emerald 1 · Lady Panthers win first round playoff match o Improves to 12-3 overall · Next match: at Daniel o May 4th o Start time TBA Notes: o Ryan Hunter signed with Spartanburg Methodist College for Track & Field o Rylee Simpson signed to play volleyball at Truett McConnell University Schedule for Wednesday, May 3rd· 3A Softball District playoffs – Clinton at Chapman, 6 PM 3A Boys’ Soccer playoffs 2nd Round – Seneca at Chapman, 7 PM Comments are closed.
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