MONTICELLO — Watson Chapel coach Chad Cope considers his team to be one of fate, especially after scoring 22 runs in the first two games of the Class 5A state tournament.
The Wildcats seemed to be running low on fate, though, after scoring just one run in the first four innings. But they were able to muster up some offense and beat Greene County Tech 6-1 in the semifinals on Saturday to earn a trip to Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.
“We have a lot of tradition here at Watson Chapel, but of all the teams I have coached, this is the most mentally tough team,” Cope said. “We give the good Lord all of the honor and glory, and we try and be a fateful team, so we want to thank the Lord.”
The last time Watson Chapel made it to the championship game was in 2008 when the Wildcats lost to Sylvan Hills. Watson Chapel last won the title in 2000.
Watson Chapel (27-6) seemed to be in line to continue its hefty offensive production after getting the first four runners on. Landen Colson led off the game with a walk and later scored on an error by the left fielder for a quick 1-0 lead. However, Greene County Tech (24-5) pitcher Seth Dearing started to loosen up and struck out V.J. Dickson, Wyatt Jones and Jordan Stargell to leave the bases loaded to end the inning.
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Cope said his team lost a little bit of focus after that inning.
“The pitcher did a good job of pitching and I thought we lost a little bit of focus there,” he said. “Thought we got relaxed since we had scored so many runs in the first couple of games. We got out of our approach and weren’t as disciplined at the plate.”
The Eagles got the run back in the second inning when Ross Adams hit the first pitch of the inning well over the left field fence.
That was the last run Watson Chapel pitcher Wyatt Jones would allow as he left seven Eagles’ on base the rest of the game.
“I knew when they got on base, I knew I had to throw strikes,” Jones said. “I knew my defense wouldn’t let me down.”
In the fifth inning, Cope decided to put some more pressure on the Eagles’ defense. Colson led off the inning with a single and went to third when Justin Dardenne’s bunt was misplayed. Zach Bradford followed with a ground ball to second base, which was also misplayed, allowing Colson scored.
Huffty followed with an infield single on a bunt to load the bases. Dickson then walked with the bases loaded when Dearing was pulled. But Jones was hit by a pitch to get a run in and Jacob Owen walked to force in the fourth run of the game for a 5-1 lead.
“That fifth inning was huge,” Cope said. “We started bunting and we were going to see what we could do and that was the turning point of the game.”
Greene County Tech coach Bruce Hunt said the bunting got to Dearing.
“He hadn’t thrown a whole lot this year because of basketball,” he said. “Five is as much as we have gotten out of him.”
Dickson reached on a fielder’s choice in the sixth inning that drove in Dardenne, giving Watson Chapel the 6-1 lead.
“We were watching too many pitches and just needed to put the ball in play,” said Jones, who struck out three batters in his seven innings of work. “We came out and gave it everything and we are going to Baum now.”
Watson Chapel plays White Hall for the championship at 7 p.m. on Friday.