No. 20 Valdosta (GA) Rallies Twice Over Chiles (FL)
March 14, 2019
VALDOSTA, GA - Chiles (FL) made the short trip north to take on No. 20 Valdosta (GA). Te Wildcats survived a scare from Chiles on Tuesday evening, coming back from two separate deficits to win 6-5.
The Timberwolves got on the board first in the second inning. Senior second baseman Cal McCallum led the inning off with a single to right field. McCallum took an aggressive approach on the basepaths, taking second and third during the following at-bat. Zach Holcomb got the job done, singling through the middle to give Chiles the lead, 1-0.
Valdosta starter RHP Jude Ard (Tallahassee CC recruit) looked sharp over the first two innings, only surrendering that one run. He was able to run his fastball up to 88 mph and mixing in an effect 12/6 curveball at 70-71 mph.
RHP Jude Ard (@TCCEagles recruit) on the mound for @govaldostacats. Strong, physical 6-4, 215 pounds. Works downhill from an over-the-top slot. FB sitting 85-88 flashes cut. CB, 12/6, 70-71, inconsistent command @PBRGeorgia pic.twitter.com/tCCaTY9z0v
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) March 12, 2019
In the third inning though, Chiles really started to get some good swings on Ard. Freshman C Jaxson West led off with an infield single. Sam Rudd then pulled one into right field for back-to-back single. Two batters later, junior Garrett Greene drove one up the middle for an RBI single. Rudd would come around to score later in the inning, making it 3-0 Chiles.
The Valdosta bats started to make some rumblings in the third inning. Cory McCann would go the opposite way with one for a double. A fly out to left field got the Timberwolves within one out of getting out of the inning with no damage done. Ard had other plans. The senior took a low an away pitch down the right field line for a run scoring double
Valdosta SP Jude Ard (@TCCEagles recruit) gets one back for himself in the bottom of the third. Overall physicality creates hard contact at the plate. RBI double in video @PBRGeorgia pic.twitter.com/w64SboYubJ
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) March 12, 2019
Avery Stephens (Gulf Coast State recruit) relieved Ard after three innings. Equally as physical a Ard, Stephens made quick work of Chiles in his first inning of work. The senior’s fastball sat a consistent 87 mph and 12/6 curveball came in at 74 mph.
Valdosta RHP/3B Avery Stephens (@GCSCbaseball recruit) relieves Ard after 3.0 innings. Big strong, 6-3 220 pound frame. FB sat 87 mph, mixed in an effective 12/6 CB at 74 @PBRGeorgia pic.twitter.com/vIgrhkjlMF
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) March 12, 2019
The fourth inning served as the first turning point of the game. Valdosta was able to get the first three batters of the inning on with nobody out. 2B Briggs Bennett delivered the first run on a groundout to the second baseman. With men on second and third and two outs, McCann came up with the clutch hit, giving the Wildcats their first lead at 4-3.
Chiles responded immediately by getting the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the fifth. Senior 2B Cal McCallum squared one up to deep left field for a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 4-4. William Killduff then gave the Timberwolves the lead once more with a single to center field.
2B Cal McCallum (@ChilesBaseball) ties the game up with a sac fly to right field. Athletic frame, strong lower half. Takes a line drive approach, spark plug type player, puts the pressure on the defense. @PBRFlorida @PBR_Uncommitted pic.twitter.com/27jsealYOg
— Phil Kerber (@PhilKerberPBR) March 12, 2019
Valdosta chipped away at the lead. Ard hit his second double of the day in the fifth inning and then came around to score on Justin Rome’s infield single. Then, in the sixth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, the Wildcats took advantage of a wild pitch to take the lead 6-5.
And Valdosta retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a wild pitch, pinch runner Ethan Bush coming around to score. Wildcats lead @ChilesBaseball 6-5 B6 @PBRFlorida pic.twitter.com/VnjMVjwIYy
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) March 12, 2019
Chiles were unable to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh inning, falling by a final score of 6-5.
