South Greene’s baseball team hosted Chuckey-Doak Monday afternoon for a conference matchup. Both teams braved the elements and were set in for a grand ole fashioned pitchers’ duel as they looked to gain the upper hand atop the conference standings. The Rebels take the first of two games with a 3-1 win at Rebel Hill.
Graydon Rader and Christian Derry both toed the rubber with effectiveness keeping their opponents off-stride by pounding the zone with fastballs and mixing in some breaking and off-speed pitches, while both going the distance. Derry scattered 6 hits, striking out 6 Rebels, while Rader limited the Knights to 4 hits while also striking out 6 and walking 4.
For the first three and a half innings, neither team was able to manufacture any runs. That changed in the bottom of the fourth when Brendan Lisenby, who went 3 for 3 on the day, singled to left to lead off the inning. He, however, was erased at second when Derry induced Dustin Crum to ground into a fielder’s choice. Colby Brooks came to the plate and sent a sharp single to left, advancing Brooks to second. Seth Franklin delivered big, driving a double to left, bringing in both runners for the 2-0 lead. The Knights avoided any further damage as the next two Rebels were erased on a fly-out and strikeout.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Colton Fillers doubled down the right field line before being awarded third due to a defensive obstruction call. He then slid safely into home, giving South Greene an insurance run, as the Chuckey-Doak catcher attempted to pick him off at third.
Looking to claw their way back into the game, Lynkin Cutshaw started the top of the sixth off with a single before being erased on a Derry fielder’s choice. Haden Roper, who entered the game as a courtesy runner, stole second and advance to third on the throwing error. Another errant throw allowed the Knights to get on the board and cut the lead to 3-1.
From that point, Rader and his Rebel defense shut down the Chuckey-Doak offense and collect the conference victory, improving to 7-7 on the year and 5-1 in the conference. Chuckey-Doak falls to 8-5 overall and also 5-1 in the conference. Both teams will match up with each other again on Tuesday in Lower Afton, weather permitting.
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