Class 2A State Baseball Review/Preview

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By JEFF LETOFSKY
PBR Senior Writer/Regional Scout       



PUEBLO — Chase Dunker stole the show during the first weekend of play at the Class 2A State Baseball Tournament at the Runyon Sports Complex.

The senior from Sedgwick County High School struck out 21 hitters as the Cougars moved into this Saturday's semifinals with a 3-2 victory over Lutheran, last season's state runnerup. The 6-foot, 175-pound left-hander, who is committed to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, allowed just two hits in throwing a complete game. He didn't walk a batter and the two runs he allowed were unearned.

What made the game unique wasn't just the 21-strikeout effort, but a look inside the box score supplied some interesting numbers.

Two times — the second and third innings — Dunker struck out four batters. That's because hitters struck out and reached base following a wild pitch or passed ball. Three other times — the fourth, fifth and seventh innings — Dunker struck out the side in order. Amazingly, Lutheran put the ball in play just four  times — a chopper back to Dunker, a ground out to third base and two doubles, one down the right-field line and another off the left-center field wall.

Dunker and strikeouts aren't strangers. He's now fanned 129 hitters this season in 49 2/3 innings. That's 129 punchouts out of a possible 147 outs. His pitch selection includes a fastball that has constant movement and has been clocked in the 86-87 mph range and a curveball with tremendous bite. He also throws a changeup.

Despite Dunker's Herclean efforts, the Cougars trailed 2-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning before tying the game with a pair of unearned runs off two Lutheran errors. Then, after Dunker struck out the side in the top of the seventh, Sedgwick County struck for the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning with a walkoff single by Chance McKinley.

"All year long we've been a comeback team," said Dunker, who improved to 8-0 with a 0.12 ERA. "I just knew deep down we'd get  the bats rolling eventually and I just had to keep on keeping on on the mound.
"My curveball was really working today. I couldn't have picked a better game to pitch than I did today."

Sedgwick County (21-1), the No. 3 seed, is one of four teams that survived the first round and quarterfinal round. Also joining the Cougars in the semifinals will by No. 2 seed Rye (22-1) along with top-seeded Resurrection Christian (20-3) and defending state champion Denver Christian (16-7), the No. 6 seed. The semifinals will be played at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Hobbs Field. The championship immediately follows at 3 p.m.

"We're definitely excited to be here," Dunker said of reaching the semifinals. "I imagine I'll throw the first game and try and get to that state championship."

Class 2A State Tournament
Saturday at Hobbs Field, Pueblo

Semifinals
Sedgwick County vs. Rye, tba
Denver Christian vs. Resurrection Christian, tba

Championship
Semifinal winners, 3 p.m.