A lesson learned - Chaffee defense sparkles, seals win

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Chaffee defeated Oran 6-2, but Red Devils coach Brian Horrell hoped his team came away from Wednesday's game with much more than a win.

He's hopeful a lesson took that he's been trying to infuse all season -- defense wins games.

To date, the Red Devils have learned that errors in the field can lose games. They committed nine errors in losses to Poplar Bluff and Dexter, and eight more in a loss to Cape Girardeau Central.

But on a stormy day where black clouds seemed to surround Harmon Field, the Chaffee defense shined.

Oran (9-2) outhit Chaffee 11 to 4, but saw Red Devil outfielders Chase Eskew and Derek Urhahn turn in diving catches to end Eagle threats in the fifth and sixth innings. Chaffee (9-5) also turned a double play, threw out a base stealer and fielded several sharply hit balls behind Zac Horman, who went the distance.

Horman issued just one walk and relied heavily on his defense as he struck out just two batters.

"Maybe this is what it will take to sink in, because too many times this year we've been very shaky defensively," Horrell said. "We've tried to get them to see the importance of what defense can do to help turn a game around. Maybe if they play a great defensive game they'll understand what defense can do for you. I hope, because it's not sinking in. It's been a roller coaster ride all year long."

Chaffee did commit two errors, but saw Oran make five miscues in the field. Eagle pitchers also issued 11 walks, 10 from starter Trey Graviett.

"You've got to make those big plays and they made them today," Oran coach Mitch Wood said. "We didn't make the plays we should have, between walks and defensive errors."

The tone of the game was set in the first inning when Oran had two hits, but failed to score as it stranded the bases loaded. Chaffee then turned a walk to James Reischmann, two wild pitches and an errant pickoff throw into a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning.

After Oran used two hits in the third to tie the game, Chaffee scored again in the bottom half without the aid of a hit as Graviett walked four consecutive batters to force in what proved to be the game-winning run.

Chaffee didn't get its first hit off Graviett until the fourth inning, when it combined three hits and two Eagle errors for three runs.

While Chaffee led 5-1, severe storms in the area looked like they could wash the game out at any minute.

But the game became official when Urhahn made a highlight-film catch to rob Graviett deep in the left-center field gap with runners at first and third in the fifth. The senior left fielder was horizontal, totally outstretched when he caught the ball waist high.

"It looked like it was going to be over my head," Urhahn said. "I just took off fast as I could and gave it a dive. That was a rope. I just got there in time."

A muddy Urhahn was mobbed by teammates as he left the field.

Eskew, who normally plays third, nearly matched Urhahn's gem when he charged toward the left-field line, dove and snared a Ryne Wood fly just before it hit the turf. The catch stranded a runner at second after Oran had already scored a run in the inning.

Chaffee added its final run in the sixth on just one hit.

"It was nice to play some great defense today," Horrell said. "Hopefully our bats will start coming around, but until they do, I hope we played defense like we did today."

jbreer@semissourian.com

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