Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Chambers was on the road for the second round of the AISA AA Baseball playoffs. It was Rebel versus Rebel at Bessemer Academy. They split the games in the doubleheader, forcing a third game, which will take place on Wednesday. 

Game 1: Chambers 11, Bessemer 4

Bessemer jumped out to an early lead due to defensive errors by the Rebels. After shutting down Chamber’s offense, Bessemer scored three runs in the first inning. An error at second base, then another at right field, allowed a base runner to score the first run. An error at third base scored the second run. Finally, a wild pitch drove in the third and final run of the inning. 

Chambers would get back in it in the third inning. Bessemer had an error of their own at third base, allowing Drew Sheppard to score. Another error by Bessemer’s shortstop allowed Luke Tarver to bring the score within one run. After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Colton Fuller hit a two-RBI single to give Chambers their first lead of the night, 4-3.

Both sides’ defenses tightened up, not letting in easy runs for the next inning. However, at the bottom of the fourth, an error at center field would tie up the ball game, 4-4. 

Chambers retook the lead in the fifth with a bases-loaded walk. 

Bessemer nearly mirrored the visiting Rebels. Fortunately, with bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning, the home team batted into a fielder’s choice, ending the inning without a score. 

It was in the final inning that Chambers broke the game open. With two outs and two on, the Rebels would increase their lead to 11-4 by the middle of the inning. Sam Smith started the scoring using his speed on a wild pitch. Then Landon Hand singled to bring Tarver home, making it 7-4.  

This would be the first of five straight singles by Chamber’s batters. After Hand, Peyton Yerta batted in another run. Eli Whorton singled to get on base. Then, Colton Fuller hits a two-RBI single. Finally, Modling singles to shift Fuller to third. After a change in pitchers for Bessemer, Fuller scored on a passed ball for an 11-4 lead. 

Once again, Bessemer had a chance to emulate Chambers. They also loaded the bases with two outs, but pitcher Johnathan Caulfield popped up the last batter.

Fuller led the team with four RBIs, followed by Yerta with two RBIs. Eight of the nine batters in the lineup tallied a hit in the game. Sheppard and Fuller had two apiece. 

Modling got the win on the mound, pitching five innings and allowing four hits and four runs. Sheppard and Caulfield pitched an inning, respectively. 

Game 2: Chambers 0, Bessemer 2

The second game of the doubleheader was a quick affair. 

It was finally Bessemer that broke the deadlock after four scoring innings, as neither team could do much offensively. A Rebel scored on a fielder’s choice. The second run came off of a single to make it 2-0. 

Cameron Gooden, the Chamber’s starter, had a good day from the mound despite the loss. Before the fourth, he had given up a single hit. Gooden pitched through six innings, allowing three hits and two runs. 

Both teams cut down the errors in the second game, and Chamber’s defense recorded the majority of outs, with the exception of one strikeout. The offense struggled to string together any hits. 

Chambers had a shot to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not to be. A double by Modling and two walks loaded the bases with two outs. Unfortunately, Bessemer would secure the win by striking out the final batter. 

Chambers notched three hits by Modling, Fuller and Tarver. Bessemer only recorded four hits, but managed to get two runs out of them. 

The two teams will return to action on Wednesday to decide who goes to the final four.