Chipley Advances To Final Four, Wins Region 1-1A Title

May 13, 2021
CJ Butts
PBR Florida Panhandle Regional Director

Bozeman and Chipley headed into play ranked 2 and 3 respectively in the 1A rankings. Bozeman sent 2022 Jeremy Todd to the mound who came into the contest with a 0.77 ERA and 92 K in 62.3 IP.

Chipley answered the bell early. Todd quickly recorded the first two outs of the first before 2023 Neal Adams doubled and 2022 Kelbee Woodham singled. Todd then hit 2023 Parker Smelcer, which set the stage for 2023 Waylon Pitts. Pitts promptly dropped a double into left center clearing the bases and giving the Tigers an early 3-0 cushion.

2021 Waylon Pitts shoots a double to the gap to clear the bases and give @TigerBaseball an early 3-0 lead after 1 inning of play.#FHSAAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/vv8Dzj6Tak
— PBR Florida (@PBRFlorida) May 13, 2021

In the top of the 3rd with the score still 3-0, Smelcer came up again and lined one to left that hit the top of the fence and bounced over for a solo homer to extend Chipley’s lead to 4-0.

That would be all 2023 Bryson Howard needed, who had allowed only 2 hits up to that point. Howard went right at hitters with a low to mid 80s FB that touched 85 mph. He mixed in a big breaking ball both on and off the plate to induce swing-and-misses at 68-71 mph. Howard’s final line: 4.2 IP 4 H 0 ER 3 BB 11 K

2023 Bryson Howard @ChipleyTigers @PBR_Uncommitted

6-0, 215 lbs, stocky frame.

Strong balance point with some tilt in the delivery. Attacking the zone early and often and throwing the BB to both sides.

FB: 81-83 T 85
CB: 68-71; with depth@PBRFlorida pic.twitter.com/NLtqeTllje
— CJ Butts (@cjbutts11) May 13, 2021

The Tigers would add two more runs on an E7 in the 4th to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Bozeman scratched across their first run of the game in the bottom half on a single from 2021 Anthony Street and throwing error to make it 6-1.

An RBI single from 2022 Banks Byers in the 6th and RBI double by 2021 Tyler Powell in the 7th proved to be too little too late for the Bucks. Chipley cruises to a 8-3 win and moves into the State Semifinal on May 19 at Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers. They run their record to 25-1 on the season.

Notables:

2021 Anthony Street (3-3, 2B, BB, R)

2021 Tyler Powell (2-4, 2B, RBI)

2022 Carson Shores and 2024 David Carley were both 2-4 with 2 runs scored

2021 Waylon Pitts (1-3, 4 RBI)

2023 Parker Smelcer (1-3, HR)