Baseball: Chapel Field defends Class D title behind Powell's one-hit, 17-K performance
SAUGERTIES — He just wants the ball.
No. 1 Chapel Field blanked No. 2 Eldred, 6-0, to win the Section 9 Class D baseball championship at Lorenz Field in Saugerties on Sunday, defending their title.
But it was Chapel Field pitcher Leam Powell who stole the spotlight in the team's biggest game of the season. Powell struck out 17 Eldred batters and went the distance, as he allowed only one hit.
“We love Leam," Chapel Field's Drew Hollo said. "Sometimes we don’t like him, he kind of steals the show a little bit. We hardly get to field any.”
Of course that was said tongue-in-cheek.
"It gets pretty boring at third base when he pitches," Chapel Field's Noah Swart added.
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Powell takes inspiration from some of the game's best pitchers, including a unique name.
“I look up to Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole and R.A. Dickey, because he throws a knuckleball," he said.
FINAL: No. 1 Chapel Field defeats No. 2 Eldred, 6-0, to win their second-consecutive Section 9 Class D championship. Leam Powell throws a complete-game one-hit shutout, striking out 17. #V845 pic.twitter.com/THFAd8L131
— Melissa Kramer (@MKramerTHR) May 29, 2022
Powell had hitters chasing fastballs the entire game, and a mix-in of a knuckleball which gave them fits.
“Riding out the fastball, that’s really all," Powell said on what went well. "They’re behind on it, so just ride it out until they start hitting it.”
His team opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, when Daimen Storch placed a sacrifice bunt down which advanced Swart to third. Drew Hollo would drive him in Swart with a two-out RBI single.
Chapel Field returned seven players from last year's championship team and will look to extend their run. Coach Sean Powell said the players came in and did their job.
What it means
Chapel Field will face Section 2 winner Germantown in a regional matchup at East Side Recreation Park in Saratoga, June 4 at noon.
Player of the game
Leam Powell was lights-out on the mound for Chapel Field, as he pitched a one-hitter and struck out 17. He's had 12-plus strikeouts in multiple games this season. Powell struck out 19 Eldred batters in a prior matchup during the regular season.
By the numbers
No. 1 Chapel Field (11-1) — Drew Hollo tallied two singles and three RBI. Brother Bryce Hollo added two singles and two RBI. Noah Swart contributed two singles and an RBI.
No. 2 Eldred (8-11) — Josh Warming pitched a complete-game, and struck out nine on the mound. He also drew a walk at the plate. Matt Ranaudo had the team's only hit, with a first-inning double.
Quotable
“It feels incredible. It’s great to get back out here and have the chance to go further, too. Because last year we came out here and we did it, but there’s still more. We feel like we could have gone farther.” - Chapel Field's Drew Hollo said
MKramer1@th-record.com
Twitter: @MKramerTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Section 9 baseball: Chapel Field defends Class D title in shutout
