Santa Fe Takes Home the Class One Championship

The Santa Fe Chiefs muscled their way to win the Class 1 championship today, 12-3, over the Norwood Pirates.

After falling behind 3-1, the Chiefs rebounded behind the pitching of Keaton Graf who threw bullets (86-88 mph, topping at 90 mph) for most of the game. Graf struck out eight Pirates en route to the victory, walking only four.

"He made me a nervous wreck starting off," Chiefs head coach Josh Fisher said. "But that's how Keaton (Graf) is. He's got to get into his groove. It takes him a little while to do it. But he came through for us."

Graf's victory was sealed with a lot of help from the offense. The Chiefs scored in every inning except the second inning. Junior Andrew Curry belted the ball with a flaming bat, going one for three with a home run, two runs, and two RBI's.  

"I saw it, took my hands to it, and I knew it was out when I hit it," Curry said of his three-run shot.

Seniors Andrew Smith and Dalton Wilkinson joined in the hit parade, clobbering a combined five hits and scoring four runs.

"We knew things could break loose if we could just spot the ball and pick it up out of the glove," Fisher said.

Graf had a big day at the plate as well with three hits, two RBI's, and two runs.

"The offense did a hell of a job," Graf said, who believed Curry's home run was the biggest lift for the team.

Norwood's starting pitcher, senior Riley Jenkins, surrendered six runs in four innings. The Pirate relief staff--sophomore Zayne Tate and senior Cody Hall--fared no better, giving up another six runs in three innings of combined work.

Norwood only found success at the plate in the bottom of the first. Junior Jordan Chadwell, senior Brad Lachney, and  Jenkins all scored in a one-out rally. After that, Graf held Norwood in check, not allowing a runner past third base after the first inning until the seventh inning.

"The boys said from day one that they could get it done," Fisher said. "From day one, I had faith in them. I knew they could do it. Can't say enough about these boys. They've got heart. Their hearts grew three sizes yesterday (with the 3-2 win over Oran). And I'm very proud of them. Can't say enough about these seniors. I love these kids to death."