Chiefs advance; play Holmes County Friday

Published 1:18 pm Wednesday, May 8, 2013

A Chipley runner scores a run, above, after he slides into Northview catcher Brannon Freeman Friday. Chiefs’ first baseman Justin Halteman, below makes contact with a pitch during a 10-6 district win.

A Chipley runner scores a run after he slides into Northview catcher Brannon Freeman during a game this season.

With the help of two of the best arms in the rotation and some late hitting, the Northview Chiefs are one win away from the state Class 1A Final Four.

The Chiefs got past Paxton 8-3 after trailing 3-1 going into the sixth inning of the game Tuesday. They play district champs Holmes County in Bonifay Friday at 7 p.m. for the right to play in the state semifinals in Fort Myers, Fla.

Kevin Vaughan was the starting pitcher for the Chiefs. He threw four innings, giving up three hits and one run on 75 pitches. He was relieved by Daulton Tullis.

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Tullis pitched three innings, struck out two, gave up three hits and three runs, although none were earned.

The team’s “unsung hero” was freshman Thomas Moore, coach Martin Lister said. The designated hitter went two-for-four with one run scored and two RBIs.

Lister said he doesn’t expect to see a big difference in the way Holmes County will play compared to the regular season where the two teams split road victories.

“We pitch pretty well against them,” Lister said. “If we hit and play solid defense we’ll be all right.”