ATHENS – The Fairfield Union baseball team isn’t going to part like it’s 1999, but they are certainly going to celebrate.
Playing in a Southeast District Division IV district championship game against Gallia Academy on Tuesday, May 26, the Falcons were looking to do something they haven’t done since 1999, and that is to win a district title.
Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Falcons loaded the bases with two outs, and Dylan Chilcote walked it off with a single to score the winning run in a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Blue Devils at Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium.
For the first time in 27 years, Fairfield Union is headed to the Sweet 16. The Falcons will face a familiar Mid-State League-Buckeye Division foe when they take on Logan Elm at 3 p.m. on June 2 in a regional semifinal back at Ohio University.
The last time the Falcons (21-6) won a district title, current head coach Scott Burke was an assistant.
“It feels great,” Bruke said. “The community is used to the baseball doing well, and we want to put a good product out there that they are proud of, and our guys have done a tremendous job of battling and making everyone proud. Our kids did a great job of keeping their emotions in check, staying even, and staying in the fight the whole way.”
It was only fitting that Chilcote had the game-winner. In two earlier at-bats, he hit two rockets that would have been home runs at Fairfield Union. However, fences were a lot longer at Ohio University, and the Gallia outfielder was able to track them down, especially the second one, where he caught it at the fence.
Chilcote was to be the hero because Alex Burke drew a one-out walk, and after the next batter struck out, the next two batters, Brady Andrews and Cody Andrews, were both hit by pitches to load the bases.
Chilcote didn’t waste any time as he hit the first pitch he saw and hit a looping base hit to right field.
“The first two at-bats, I hit some of the hardest hit balls I’ve hit all year, and it wasn’t working out for me,” Chilcote said. “I got up there in the eighth, took a deep breath, and the first pitch he gave me was a curveball on the outside, and when I hit it, I knew it was going to land. I didn’t think I would get another chance, but once I did, I knew I had to adjust. It was my time to go win it for us.”
The Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Garrett Dilcher hit a triple and scored on a wild pitch. It stayed that way until the Blue Devils tied it in the third when they hit a triple and scored on a groundout.
Starting pitcher Joe Blankenship was outstanding. He pitched five strong innings, limiting Gallia to just one run before he was relieved by Cameron Silcott.
“So many people contributed, and you start with Joe Blankenship on the mound because we had to use our top two guys on (May 24). We asked him to give us everything he had, and he did a great job. We made so many plays. We talk a lot about process over result and stay in the fight, and that’s what we did.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Fairfield Union wins district championship for the first time since 1999
Reporting by Tom Wilson, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
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