by Rootstown, Ohio – A five-run first inning proved to be the difference Monday afternoon, as the Chippewa Chipps advanced to the sectional finals with a 5-3 win over visiting Rootstown.
Isaiah Radebaugh led off with a walk. He scored on an RBI groundout from Corbin Marshall to put Chippewa ahead, 1-0. Starting pitcher Anderson Hatfield helped out his own cause with a triple to right field, scoring Grant Johnson and making the score 2-0. Ethan Douglas followed with an RBI single to bring Hatfield home, increasing the score to 3-0. After Connor Heaps drew a walk, Nolan Speegle hit an RBI single to right-center field, making the score 4-0. Heaps would score on a wild pitch for the Chipps’ fifth run of the game.
Rootstown cut into their lead thanks to a two-run single to left by junior infielder Tony Karp.
From there, the pitchers traded zeroes. Freshman Bryce Harless came on in relief for the Rovers and threw 5.1 shutout innings, allowing four hits on two walks and five strikeouts.
Rootstown tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth. Blake Postelthwait hit a single up the middle off the pitcher’s glove, and later advanced to second. He scored on an Austin Biggin double to right field to cut the Rover deficit to 5-3.
The Chipps got runners on in the top of the sixth and seventh, but couldn’t increase their lead.
Rootstown made one more attempt at a rally in the last frame. Blake Postelthwait singled to left field to bring the tying run up in Joe Weaver. Weaver hit a grounder to short, where Corbin Marshall made a diving play, throwing to second baseman Nolan Speegle, who then threw to Ethan Douglas at first to end the game.
Chippewa, now 13-13, travels to Chagrin Falls for a sectional final matchup Wednesday afternoon. Sophomore pitcher Anderson Hatfield threw a complete game, walking just two batters and strking out five on 81 pitches. Junior outfielder Grant Johnson went 2-2 with a walk and a run scored.
Rootstown finishes their season at 7-14.
Extended highlights below:
