As Chester Academy head coach Mike Doucette heads for the end of his career, he finds every success story just a bit sweeter.
To be honest, Doucette – even with a 2025 title in his pocket and a large number of returnees – wasn’t expecting much more than perhaps a .500 record, a shot at a division title and an opportunity to repeat in sections.
Once again, he’s received more than he bargained for. The Hambletonians got their OCIAA Div. IV title, and have rolled off seven consecutive wins to repeat as Section 9 Class B champs. Top-seeded Chester knocked off No. 3 seed Spackenkill 13-3 in walk-off fashion at Saugerties’ Cantine Field on Saturday, scoring six two-out runs in the sixth inning for the unlikely conclusion.
“It’s such a good group of kids this year,” he said. “I really wanted it for them. They worked so hard, it’s been drama-free, like they’ve had their eye on the prize since the beginning of the year. … It’s kind of fun to watch them check boxes off as we go.
“This was a good one,” Doucette added.
Chester will face either Pawling or Putnam Valley from Section 1 in a state quarterfinal in Saugerties on Saturday, June 6.
Chester ace Nick Sharp proved dominant early in the contest, worked through a rocky fourth inning and then closed down the final Spackenkill threats before the final offensive onslaught. In the end, Sharp walked away with a two-hit victory, despite six walks, and a sore left (non-throwing) arm after getting drilled with a line drive in the final inning.
With Chester up 6-3 in the sixth and two outs in the books, Spackenkill reliever Isaiah Torres was unable to close the frame, twice losing hitters with two strikes, twice with foul balls to opposite lines just out of reach of fielders. The Hambletonians posted a walk, single, walk, runner reaching on an infield error, a walk and single to post five runs and chase Torres. Reliever Easton Koehler faced just one batter and Brandon Jenkins dropped in a wind-aided RBI single that eluded the Spartans’ second baseman and right fielder for the final run, reaching the 10-run mercy rule limit.
“We know who we were this year,” Doucette said. “We’re not a home run hitting team. We’re gap-to-gap power. We’re built on pitching and defense.”
Chester batted around in the first. Logan Bach slapped an RBI single past second base, Mason Diaz singled and a run scored on a left fielder error and Christian Calloway drew a bases-loaded walk. In the second, James Musco doubled, eventually scoring on a Sharp groundout, and Aiden Francisco drew a two-out walk and made it 5-0 on Bach’s double to deep center. In the third, Calloway was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a two-out single dumped into short right-center by James Musco.
“We’ve been working on the last couple of weeks to put a little more pressure (on the opponent) to throw us out and steal some bases,” Doucette said.
Sharp walked two leadoff batters in the Spackenkill fourth, and consecutive infield errors fueled the Spartans. Luke Wishrad’s bobbled grounder allowed one run, a sharp single to right by Koehler scored one and Nate Yots’ groundout to second base plated a third run.
After that point, Spackenkill stranded two runners in the fifth and sixth innings.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Baseball – Chester rolls past Spackenkill for Section 9 Class B title
Reporting by Ken McMillan, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
