×

Chipps don’t fall in Crestview’s favor

Crestview’s Dylan Ball catches a fly ball in right field against Chippewa during a Div. III regional semifinal on Friday. (Salem News/Patti Schaeffer)

MASSILLON — Playing in a regional game for the first time in school history, the Crestview baseball team showed it belonged on the stage but wound up falling short by the thinnest of margins.

An RBI single that was barely fair in the top of the seventh by Doylestown Chippewa’s Vince Suso was the difference as the Rebels lost 1-0 to the Chipps in a Division III regional semifinal Friday at Massillon Washington High School.

The Rebels (15-12) see the end of an exciting tournament run that saw them run through the Struthers district as a seven-seed and capture the first district title in school history. The Chipps (20-6) advance to the regional championship game at 10 a.m. today against second-ranked Champion who defeated Lutheran West 9-3 on Friday.

“The way we played today was like we have all season,” Crestview senior pitcher Dylan Dickey said. “We battled every pitch and kept battling to the last out. I’m very proud of how we competed.”

The game sailed along through the first six innings with both Dickey and Chippewa’s Drew Ellis locked in a tense pitchers duel.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Chippewa’s Cole Thompson hit a sinking liner to center that Crestview’s Dylan Huff couldn’t quite snag despite a diving effort.

Thompson was forced out at second on a grounder by Gary Thonen, but a single by number-nine hitter Spencer Bailey put runners at first and second with two outs. Leadoff hitter Vince Suso was up next and hit a rapidly hooking liner to third that was ruled fair as it hit behind the base, enabling Thonen to race home with the games only run. The call was so close, it appeared it could have gone either way.

“We couldn’t see it,” Crestview head coach Dan Hill said. “As fast as the umpire was trying to get out of the way of the ball, I don’t know that he saw it either. But that’s part of the game. I’m not arguing that call, there were too many other things that affected the game.”

Fans who enjoy good defense and tough pitching certainly got a treat.

On the mound, Dickey delivered exactly the type of efficient performance the Rebels have grown accustomed to. The senior left-hander pounded the strike zone all game while scattering four hits, striking out three and walking none.

“I just wanted to hit my spots and let my defense work behind me,” Dickey said. “They played a heck of a game today. They played out of their minds.”

The Chipps had a couple of chances to break through before the seventh but left runners at second in the second and sixth innings. In the fifth, back-to-back Crestview errors put runners at first and second with two outs, but Dickey overcame it by getting Suso to fly out to right.

Afterward, Hill said Dickey’s performance–and overall impact on the team–couldn’t be quantified with numbers alone

“He’s just a hell of a player,” Hill said. “He’s done everything that I’ve ever asked him to do. He goes out there, battles for seven innings and gives you everything he has.”

The Rebels outfield stayed busy with nine putouts and came up with a couple of very nice plays. Chippewa also played a very tight game defensively, highlighted by a 5-4-3 double play after Tyler Fitzsimmons led off the sixth with a single.

Ellis was sharp on the mound for the Chipps, surrendering four singles while striking out four and walking one. Fitzsimmons, Caleb Hill, Kaden Davis and Tyler Hurd each had one hit for the Rebels.

“He’s a good pitcher,” Davis said. “He’s not the best we saw this year, but he hit his spots really well and did his job. I give him a lot of credit.”

The only time Crestview got a runner in scoring position was the first when they had runners at first and second, but Ellis got out of it with a strikeout. The Rebels got the leadoff man aboard in the fifth and sixth, but could not move them over.

“We thought we would be in the game exactly like we were today,” Hill said. “We had a couple chances where we couldn’t execute offensively. But give them credit. They played flawless defense and made pitches when they had to.”

While the Rebels left the field disappointed at dropping a game that was well within reach, they also took a lot of pride in advancing where no other Crestview baseball team has been

“I told every one of them that I love them like my sons,” Hill said. “This is just something else for this program to build upon going forward.”

“This team was a family,” Dickey said. “I’ve never been closer with a group of guys. I just hope the guys coming back can take it one step farther than us.”

Game notes

¯Friday was the last game for Dickey, Davis, Fitzsimmons, Jacob Crawford, Brandon Chuey and Peyton Wolfe. Crestview returns five players who started Friday’s game.

“All four years I played here, we were one big family, it didn’t matter who was on the team. That closeness is what helped us win games,” Davis said.

¯Davis, a senior, recovered from an injury–which cost him the last third of the season–just in time to help the Rebels on their tournament run.

“I had faith in my team whether I was on the field or not. But getting back and being able to play is probably the best feeling I’ve had because not being able to contribute was killing me,” Davis said.

¯The game took only 1 hour and 25 minutes to play. Both pitchers kept their pitch count low, with Dickey throwing 89 pitches and Ellis 84.

¯Dickey finished the year 7-2 to go with 60 strikeouts and just 10 walks.

¯Chippewa is making its first regional appearance since 2003.

¯The Champion baseball and softball teams will both be in Massillon playing for regional titles today. After the baseball team plays Chippewa at 10 a.m., the softball team will play Massillon Tuslaw right across the street at 1 p.m.

¯Saturday’s early start time was set to accommodate Chippewa’s graduation, which is scheduled for 4 p.m. today.

CH: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1–1-4-0

CR: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0–0-4-3

CH–Drew Ellis, wp, (7IP, 4K, 1BB) and Luke Brown.

CR–Dylan Dickey, lp, (7IP, 3K, 0BB) and Tyler Hurd.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today