NEWBERRY — On June 16, Chapin-Newberry hosted Orangeburg in a closely contested League 8 American Legion game.
The game was a pitching duel until the bottom of the sixth when the first runs were plated. Tristan Smaltz was on the bump for Chapin-Newberry. He faced 25 batters, struck out nine, walked one, and gave up six hits and five runs.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Justin Hawkins was issued a free pass to first. Ryan Stoudemire double to short center field and Landon Allison was hit by a pitch loading the bases for Blake Smith who doubled scoring three runs.
Orangeburg answered in the top of the seventh. They scored five runs and took the lead 5-3.
Chapin-Newberry came back in the bottom of the seventh. Delshun Young singled and Corey Stone doubled. Danton Hyman, Stoudemire, and Smith singled. Four additional runs were plated making the final score 7-5.
Trey Huber, Zack Ziesing and Hyman came on in relief and each pitched an inning.
With an 8-0 record, Chapin-Newberry leads League 8 and is ranked second in the state behind Florence.
The South Carolina/North Carolina Challenge begins Friday, June 19 at 4:30 p.m. with Greenwood vs. Hendersonville followed by the 7 p.m. game — Chapin-Newberry versus Hendersonville. Four games are scheduled for Saturday and three games on Sunday. All games will be played at Newberry College.