Pates' Huge Double Gives Chargers Extra Inning Victory

Varsity Baseball: Courtland Cougars vs. Chancellor Chargers

By: Greg Wolfe

Wednesday night's meeting between two bitter rivals, the Chancellor Chargers (4-0) and Courtland Cougars, ended in amazing fashion. Jeffery Pates' huge double came in clutch, giving the Chargers their first conference win in the eighth inning 3-2.

Both teams in the first inning tried to get things started off on a high note, as they both were able to move runners over to third base. Neither team would score however, as the Chargers' Matt Zuna and the Cougars' Number 12 did some dancing early.

In the second inning, Zuna decided to help his own cause. With two outs, and another two runners in scoring position, Zuna smacked a single into the outfield giving himself some breathing room to work with on the mound. With that breathing room, he really started to find his groove and retire Cougars batters. Up until the fifth inning, Zuna recorded 8 strikeouts.

In the fourth inning the Chargers tried playing add on as Matt Morgan, who swung a hot bat all night, lined a triple into right field. A couple batters later, they tried bunting him home and weren't able to convert. That lost run would become costly later on.

In the 6th inning, Zuna started to show signs of struggle and gave up back to back walks which would end his impressive night. CJ Craft took over on the mound, and did everything he could. The Cougars dropped a bunt moving the runners into scoring position, and after a passed ball and a sac fly the game was suddenly tied.

The Chargers and Cougars became locked in a mini pitchers duel, as Number 1 for the Cougars retired Chargers batters easily and Craft showed the same efficiency. To end the top of the 7th, Craft recorded two strikeouts and Tyler Fisher helped out from behind the plate as he picked off a Cougar player at first base. The Chargers could feel the momentum on their side, but came up empty in the bottom half of the inning.

After another solid inning of work from Craft, the Chargers got to work in the bottom of the eighth. Craft led off with a single, and Zach Bochenec bunted him over to second. The Cougars intentionally walked Jordan Byrd to get to Jeffery Pates, and he made them pay. Pates wasted no time, and smacked a double into right field giving the Chargers an amazing walk off win. (Click here for a video of the walk off)

This win was huge for the Chargers, giving them their first conference win in one of the harder conferences in the area. They are still undefeated, and will look to stay hot when they travel to play the James Monroe Yellow Jackets next Tuesday.

Stat Section

Chancellor Chargers

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Courtland Cougars

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