Hawks grounded with 2A regional semifinal loss

CHARITON – Central Lee’s Chase Johnson came into his own in the post-season for the Central Lee Hawks, but his 4 1/3 innings of relief Saturday in Chariton just wasn’t quite enough to keep the Hawks’ season alive.
Central Lee fell 3-2 to Class 2A No. 6 Chariton (24-6) at Chariton in the Class 2A Region 5 semifinals Saturday evening.
Johnson helped the Hawks roll into the semis with an energetic effort Tuesday against Wilton.
All the runs in the game were scored in the bottom of the first and the top of the second before both pitchers, Johnson and Chariton’s Jace Gwinn settled in and didn’t allow another run the rest of the night.
Chariton jumped on Central Lee starter Caedon Newton in the first inning for three runs. Keagan Evans hit the first pitch of the game from Newton into center. Then a walk put two on. A flare into right field that landed in front of Kayden Calfee resulted in a force out at second, but the Chargers had runners at 1st and 3rd with one out. Newton would give up another walk to load the bases. Senior Carver Mason then lined a single to left plating two and leaving two on.
Senior Brock Oxenrieder followed with an RBI single to left scoring another run for a 3-0 lead. Newton would get an out on a  fielder’s choice for the second out moving runners to 2nd and 3rd. A walk would load the bases and then a popout to short ended the top of the first.
Central Lee responded with two runs in the top of the 2nd.
Calfee singled to right to open the second inning and ran all the way to third when Chariton let the ball get by in right field.  Then Johnson walked on five pitches as did Gage Van Ausdall to load the bases. Newton then grounded out to second scoring Calfee. And moving the runners up.
Brett Cook then grounded out to deep short scoring Johnson with two outs. Another infield groundout ended the frame and the scoring for the game.

The Hawks got two outs on pop flies and then brought in Johnson in the bottom of the second. Johnson quickly recorded a strike out to end the inning.
Mason Sanders and Blake Davis both singled to put two on with no outs in the top of the third, but got no joy as the Chargers wrapped up the top half with a strikeout, flyout and another strikeout looking to strand two of the six the Hawks would leave on the basepaths on the night
Chariton had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the sixth but Johnson got a line out for the second out before Blake Davis came on in relief to get Gwinn on strikes to end the inning.
Davis would draw a two-out walk in the top of the seventh, but would get stranded when Bo Herdrich’s a deep high fly to left center was tracked down by Oxenreider to end the game.
“You always play stuff in your mind that you coulda done different, but no, we’ll move forward with what we did,” he said.
“One little hit or a ball that bounces one way for you, but it was a good high school game.
The Hawks will lose senior Herdrich, Johnson, Calfee, Hunter Edlin, who was not dressed for the game Saturday night, and Brayden Wyrick.
“That is your hard-working work ethic right there. Chase and Calfee have been pullers for this program for years. - Edlin, Wyrick – I’m gonna miss those guys,” he said.
The loss caps the Hawks season at 19-5. Davis, just a sophomore, led the Hawks with a .455 average and 27 RBI. He also led the team in home runs with six. Herdrich had four on the year. Davis was 5-1 on the mound with two saves. Herdrich was 3-0 on the mount and Davis was 5-1 with two saves. Johnson was also 3-0 with 36ks. Davis had 53 on the season.