It had to wait an extra day but the Chuckey-Doak baseball team is back on top of District 1-2A for the first time since 2022.
The Black Knights finished on top of the district during the regular season and a strong week of play culminated on Sunday with a 6-2 win over West Greene in the District 1-2A Tournament championship game.
“This was a tough game, and West Greene is a good ball club,” Chuckey-Doak coach Jacob Willett said. “We played well. I would have liked to have hit the ball better, but we played exceptional defense, and we pitched it really well. The defense made a lot of plays tonight. We were scrappy enough on offense, and I’m super proud of these guys for the work they have put in this year. We’re excited to be going to the region.”
The Knights’ offense had gotten the job done for most of the week, but on Sunday the defense rose to the occasion in the right moments to secure the win. Chuckey-Doak stranded five Buffalo runners in scoring position and eliminated two more runners at second base in the win.
“The defense played huge tonight,” Willett said. “We got really good pitching as well. Lynkin (Cutshaw) had some big strikeouts, and we brought Gavin (Crum) on early and he shut the door. I couldn’t be more proud of this performance. It has been a long road to get here, but tonight was super encouraging.”
That tough defense started in the top of the first inning. The Buffs worked three walks to load the bases before Jhonen Bath blasted an absolute missile to the left side. Shortstop Gavin Crum some how snuck his leather in front of it to make the out and hold all runners. Next Lynkin Cutshaw powered across strike three and got out of the jam with no damage done.
West Greene’s defense was less surehanded on Sunday night, and let the first of four unearned runs score in the first inning.
Kiptyn Ball was hit by a pitch and Randall Sauceman put a single into right field. Both scored when James Seidl into a fielder’s choice. The Buffs got the out at second with the bases load, but the throw to first missed and gave Sauceman time to score from second for a 2-0 lead.
Chuckey-Doak scored three more unearned runs in the second inning. The Knights loaded the bases with two outs on a single by Ben Palazzo and walks by Dom Atchison and Jake Hinkle. Sauceman sent a chopper to third base, but the throw that could have ended the inning flew into the road along the first baseline allowing two runs to score. Hinkle then scored on a bases-loaded walk for a 5-0 lead.
In the third inning West Greene finally broke through when Braden McCamey launched a solo home run over the tall wall in right center. West Greene went on to load the bases, but Cutshaw again used a strikeout to end the threat.
Cutshaw led off the bottom of the inning by slamming a double into right field. He went to third on a passed ball and scored to make it 6-1 when Palazzo sent a sacrifice fly to right field.
West Greene added a run in the fourth frame, but base running mistakes prevented them from threatening the lead.
Campbell led off with a single to left field and scored from first when Kaven Greene sent a fly ball to the left field fence. Greene was caught at second on the play trying to turn his hit into a double.
McCamey put a single over the second baseman, but he was caught off the bag rounding second when Bath sent a line drive to right field.
Both teams went down in order in the fifth and sixth innings. West Greene put two aboard with no outs in the seventh, but again the Knights’ defense got out of the tight spot with no damage done.
Crum earned the win on the mound in relief for Chuckey-Doak. He threw four innings with two strikeouts, two walks and four hits allowed. Cutshaw threw the first three innings with four strikeouts, seven walks and two hits allowed.
For West Greene Brandon Hunter threw one inning and took the loss. Jayden Cox threw five innings with four strikeouts, four walks and three hits allowed.
Chuckey-Doak earned five hits in the win. Cutshaw had a double, Seidl had two RBIs, and Sauceman, Crum and Palazzo each had a single.
For West Greene McCamey was 2-for-2 with a home run. Bath went 2-for-4
Both teams advance to the Region 1-2A Tournament. Chuckey-Doak earned the right to host the region tournament by winning on Sunday, but they will not know their opponents until the District 2-2A Tournament is completed on Tuesday.
“This is the first time these guys have been district champs since the seniors were freshman,” Willett said. “It’s been a long wait, but we want this to be something we expect to do every year. We have the talent and need to expect to do this year in and year out. These guys have set the standard and now we have to live up to it.”
