HARRIS — In a tight game, one play can be the difference between victory and defeat.

A ball, that was apparently lost in the lights, gave the Starmount Rams the breathing room they needed to notch a come-from-behind victory over the Chase Trojans, 4-1, in the third round of the NCHSAA 2A Baseball Playoffs.

Chase escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first and the Trojans captured some two-out lightning as Cameron Wilkins walked and scored on a booming double by Jared Allen to grab an early lead.

It would prove to be the only run of the night for Chase.

In the second, Chase’s defense turned a critical 1-3-4 double play to keep the Rams off the board.

The Rams, however, broke through with two runs in the third to take a 2-1 lead.

Chase looked to knot the game in the third when Blake Moffitt led off with a single and stole second, but Starmount’s Alex Barr struck out two Trojans in the frame to leave the tally at 2-1.

Chase’s Allen and the Rams’ Barr matched each other pitch-for-pitch in a quick fourth inning of play.

Chase looked to have something going in the fifth as they put two runners on with two outs. The Trojans’ Thomas Melton popped out and Wilkins lined out, however, as Barr and the Rams preserved their lead.

The Rams added two insurance runs in the seventh. Chase’s Trey Hester appeared to lose the ball in the lights, in deep leftfield, that allowed two Rams to come home to put the Trojans into a 4-1 hole.

Chase hit the ball hard in their final at-bat, but all three hot-shots were cleanly fielded by the Rams for putouts.

Barr pitched a complete game, earning eight strikeouts in seven innings and only allowing four hits and one earned run.

The Rams tallied nine hits against Chase, with strong plate apperances from Eugene Billips (2-3), Tanner Mathis (2-3 with two RBI’s and one run scored), and Wesley Cockerham (1-4 with an RBI). Jake Barr also earned an RBI against Chase.



Starmount 0 0 2 0 0 0 2- 4 9 0

Chase       1 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 4 0



Leading Hitters: Tanner Mathis 2-3, 2 RBI’s, Alex Barr 1-2, Wesley Cockerham 1-4, 1 RBI

2B: Alex Barr, Tanner Mathis

WP: Alex Barr