Chaffee baseball team squeezes by Valle in Class 2 sectional

~ The Red Devils defeated Valle 2-0 to reach the quarterfinal round for the first time in 12 years

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Chaffee High School baseball team's formula for success this season has been fairly basic and simple.

Get strong pitching, play solid defense and scratch out just enough offense.

It worked again Monday -- and it has the Red Devils in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2001 after a 2-0 Class 2 sectional win over visiting Ste. Genevieve Valle Catholic.

"It's been a long time coming. We're very honored to get the shot," Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said about the quarterfinal berth. "We were hoping it would be a grind-it-out, defensive and pitching game. That's the way we're built."

Chaffee’s Devon Yahn successfully executes a squeeze bunt during the third inning of the Red Devils’ Class 2 sectional game against Valle Catholic on Monday in Chaffee, Mo. Chaffee won 2-0. (Laura Simon)

Chaffee, the state's third-ranked Class 2 squad which improved to 23-7, will play at Holcomb at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Second-ranked Valle, last year's Class 2 runner-up, ended its season at 26-5.

"It feels really good, especially senior year," Chaffee senior shortstop Jared Walker said.

Junior Cody Payne fired his second straight shutout, Walker saved a run with a defensive gem and both Chaffee runs came on squeeze bunts.

"Payne was on, and we did just enough to scratch out some runs," Horrell said. "We did a good job of getting on base and taking advantage of the squeeze."

Chaffee coach Brian Horrell reacts to pitcher Cody Payne retiring a Valle batter to end the top of the fourth inning.

Payne, Chaffee's ace, is usually on, and he has been especially stout over the past week.

Payne fired a three-hit shutout to beat Bloomfield 3-0 last Tuesday as the Red Devils captured their first district title since 2010.

Valle managed only two hits against Payne -- one an infield single -- who struck out nine and did not issue a walk. The Warriors' only other baserunner came on the game's lone error by either side.

"I felt good. I trusted in my defense the whole way. I knew they'd have my back," Payne said. "I knew I had to just get the ball across the plate and not walk anybody."

Valle never got a runner to third base.

Chaffee pitcher Cody Payne reacts after striking out the final Valle Catholic batter in the Red Devils’ Class 2 sectional win Monday. Payne allowed just two hits in throwing a complete-game shutout.

"When you don't get a guy to third, what are you going to do? He [Payne] just did a good job for them all day," Valle coach Judd Naeger said. "Any game like this you come in thinking two runs will give you a really good chance to win the game. When they got two we could no longer play for one run."

Valle senior ace Tyler Litterest blanked Chaffee for the first two innings before the Red Devils broke through.

Junior first baseman Cole Hanna, the No. 8 hitter, led off the bottom of the third inning with a single. Hanna went to third on sophomore DH Lane Henson's single and scored on junior third baseman Devon Yahn's RBI squeeze bunt.

"Our kids had extreme confidence in Payne," Horrell said. "When we got that first run, you could see their eyes light up."

Chaffee used the same formula in the fourth inning. Walker led off with a double, moved to third on Payne's ground out to the right side and came home on senior catcher Cody Johnson's RBI squeeze bunt.

Chaffee players celebrate the Red Devils' 2-0 win over Valle Catholic in their Class 2 sectional game, Monday, May 20, 2013. (Laura Simon)

Valle's only real chance to score came in the fifth inning after the first two batters were retired.

Sophomore third baseman Andrew Basler got the Warriors' first hit, beating out a slow roller to third base.

Basler advanced to second on a wild pitch and junior left fielder Evan Lauer sent a ground ball up the middle that looked like it would easily get into center field for an RBI single.

But Walker ranged far to his left and gloved the ball behind the bag. He twisted his body and threw a strike to first to nip Lauer.

"Walker made a great play. I thought they were going to cut it to 2-1," Horrell said.

Walker said Payne got a piece of the ball, which allowed him to reach it.

"Cody kicked it," said Walker, who also made another strong defensive play as did several other Red Devils. "We pride ourselves on defense."

Payne cruised the rest of the way, allowing a one-out single in the sixth inning and setting the Warriors down in order in the seventh.

Chaffee had eight hits against Litterest, who struck out six and walked none.

Walker went 2 for 3, while junior second baseman Storm Estes went 2 for 2.

"We've been struggling with our hitting, but we're picking it up when we need to," Walker said. "Everything seems to be coming together when we need it."

Chaffee now will get ready for a rematch against Holcomb (20-7), with a berth in the state's final four at stake.

Chaffee scored two seventh-inning runs to rally past Holcomb 4-3 on April 13 in the Malden tournament.

"Holcomb is a tough team. We know what we're up against," Payne said. "Seniors' last year, they want to go to the final four. We told them we'll get them there."

Valle 000 000 0 -- 0 2 0

Chaffee 001 100 x -- 2 8 1

WP -- Cody Payne. LP -- Tyler Litterest. 2B -- Jared Walker(C). Multiple hits -- Chaffee: Walker 2-3, Storm Estes 2-2. Records -- Valle 26-5, Chaffee 23-7.