97-9 "The Hill" High School Baseball - Northwood Chargers vs. Chapel Hill Tigers

The Big 8 – 3A Conference Champion Northwood Chargers visited the Chapel Hill Tigers on Thursday, May 4th for a 7:01 first pitch. Although the Chargers had just clinched the conference championship with an Orange Panther loss the previous night, the atmosphere generated at Tiger Park was nothing short of electric. Both teams played with an intensity that would rival most playoff games. The ending of the game could not have been scripted any better for the Tigers as they won the contest in the bottom of the 7th inning on a walk off single by center fielder Tyler Tachman.

Northwood Senior pitcher Patrick Szczypinksi’s (Shapinkski) incredible senior year (8-0) continued allowing no earned runs in six innings while scattering 4 hits. Two of the 3 runs generated by the Tigers were unearned. Szczypinksi struck out 7 Tigers in the outing and allowed 5 walks. Szczypinksi, junior Bryce Davis, senior Dylan Mazurek, junior Max Hundley, and senior shortstop Logan Crabtree each had hits for the Chargers.

The Chapel Hill Tigers fell behind early in the contest when Northwood plated two runs in the top of the 1st inning. The Tigers scored single runs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th inning, bringing a 3-3 tie into the bottom of the 7th inning. The Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th inning when Charger Coach Rick Sparks, ordered an intentional pass to first baseman Adam Guskiwicz to set up a potential double play with one out. Tiger centerfielder Tyler Tachman capitalized by driving a full count pitch into centerfield for the walk off win. Junior Tyler Hansen took the mound for the start for the Tigers in a different role. Hansen is typically the Tiger’s shortstop and closer for the team. Hansen exercised great control on the evening, striking out 7 Chargers while walking only 2 in his six innings of work. Tachman’s walk off single was his second hit of the evening while Colin Liebe, Ryan Lonegan, Anthony Castellano, and Tyler Hansen each had hits for the Tigers.

Both the Tigers and the Chargers have generated 19 wins on the year and both await high school playoff bids. The bracket for this years North Carolina high school playoffs will be generated next Tuesday, May 9th. Both teams are expecting excellent seeding for post season play. WCHL – 97-9 “The Hill” will be on hand to cover Orange County school’s participating in the 2017 High School Baseball Playoffs as schedules permit.

Northwood vs Chapel Hill Complete Game Stats

Northwood Chargers vs. Chapel Hill Tigers Photo Gallery