CJ August figured he wouldn’t beat the throw, but he just kept running.
The Chesapeake junior raced toward first base as his ground ball was scooped in the infield and rocketed in. With two outs, two Cougars base-runners took off, but knowing the arm Northeast shortstop Chase McLaughlin had, it was likely just procedural.
Chesapeake only had a one-run lead in the top of the eighth, and with the Class 3A South Region I title on the line, it looked like it would be tested in the bottom of the frame.
But then, the throw shot past the first baseman’s glove. In that moment, the final door opened for Chesapeake’s 6-3 victory.
“It was just a blessing he missed it,” August said.
August froze on first, watching Brayden Corcoran launch from third base and stream across home plate.
The Cougars couldn’t believe their good fortune. Half an inning ago, they were staring elimination in the face, and now, they led by three runs, 5-2 — but four would be better.
Pinch runner Dennis Bailey made sure his teammates felt a little more comfortable heading into the bottom of the eighth by swiping home.
“I’m really proud of my guys,” August said. “We held it together in the end. We work so hard and we have so much love for each other — if we keep playing like this, we can make a run.”
Chesapeake (17-6) will be one of eight 3A region champions reseeded for the state quarterfinals based on regular-season record once all finals are completed. Coach Jeff Young hadn’t dared to look at the standings. Host Northeast posed too much of a threat to assume anything.
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Northeast’s Jayden Saraullo celebrates a 3-up 3-down 1st inning against Chesapeake during a regional baseball game at Northeast High School on Wednesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)
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Northeast’s Jayden Saraullo celebrates a 3-up 3-down 1st inning against Chesapeake during a regional baseball game at Northeast High School on Wednesday. (Brian Krista/Staff)
“One step at a time,” he said.
Outside of August’s two-RBI double in the top of the second and Northeast’s pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth, both starting pitchers made hitting scarce. Chesapeake hurler Dylan Adams threw five hitless innings.
But the Eagles had proven all season how quickly its offense could strike.They earned their spot in the county championship and beaten Chesapeake on its own field earlier in the season.
The Eagles had a golden opportunity to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and Cooper Meeks stepping into the box. Young had faith in sophomore reliever Cooper Barnes to get out of the jam.
“He’s very young, but he can compete. He doesn’t show too much emotion one way or the other,” Young said.
Barnes got Meeks to strike out swinging then induced a flyout to end the inning unscathed.
“I’m really proud of him and proud of this whole team,” Young said. “They grind it out. They figure out ways to fight.”
The Cougars frustrated their coach to no end in March. They ended the month on a three-game losing streak, results Young blamed on a lack of effort. He asked more from the nine seniors and talented underclassmen going forward. He knew the right culture had been passed down from the classes above — it was simply lying dormant.
The players responded.
The Cougars won 12 of its next 13 games. The most recent three practices “amazed” Young. They handled their first playoff round easily, then topped Old Mill in the region semifinals.
They’re young, Young said, but they’re grinding.
“They believe in themselves. They don’t want it to end,” Young said, “and that goes a long way.”
Have a sports tip? Contact Katherine Fominykh at [email protected] or DM @capgazsports on Instagram.
CHESAPEAKE — 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 — 6 6 2NORTHEAST — 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 — 3 1 12B — CH: CJ August 1