Tigers Top Wildcats 3 - 2 in 10 Innings to Claim Big 8 - 3A Title

The Chapel Hill Tigers scratched and clawed their way back from a 2 run deficit to best their talented cross town rival the East Chapel Hill Wildcats 3 – 2 in 10 innings to claim the Big 8 – 3A conference title in front of a 6 deep standing room only crowd at Tiger Stadium Thursday night. The game presented the ultimate sports fan with every possible avenue of excitement and exhibited superb pitching, great defense, outstanding coaching decisions, and enough offense to keep you glued throughout the entire 10 innings. Not one of the over 500 fans in attendance left the ballpark until the last pitch was thrown.

In addition to being a game of high anticipation for months, it was also the two teams yearly campaign to raise contributions for the children’s cancer foundation Vs. Cancer. The Tiger – Wildcat rivalry exhibits fierce competition but also respect and class that all levels of sports could learn from. Together the two teams raised $25,580 in the campaign making this yearly game the largest source of funds raised by high schools in the country for the Vs. Cancer Foundation. Both teams met at 3:45 at Tiger Field where together volunteering players had their heads shaved in support of children’s cancer by local barbers who had volunteered their time. Jersey Mike’s supplied sandwiches to all players and coaches in the pregame event and supplied subs to the Tiger concession stands that yielded $4.00 for every sandwich sold to the cause. Special guests in attendance for the game included Vs. Cancer National Campaign Manager Shea Constantino, UNC Director of Cancer Services Brendan Fitzpatrick, and Tarheel Basketball star Luke Maye, who threw the games ceremonial first pitch. Many silent auctions were available including a basketball signed by the entire 2017 – 2018 Tarheels. Together the two teams efforts have yielded more than $55,000 in the 4 years of the event.

The East Chapel Hill Wildcats behind the superb pitching effort of senior right hander (Erskine Commit) Ryan Fajack held the Tigers scoreless for 4 complete innings. Fajack used a pinpoint 88 mph fastball and spotted his breaking pitch with perfection for the first 3 innings retiring all 9 batters he faced in the Tigers lineup. The Wildcats got on the board early when Bryce Jeske lead off the game with a base hit to right field and later scored in the inning on a single by 3B Justin Wernoski. The Wildcats threatened again in the 3rd and 4th inning leaving runners in scoring position at the end of both innings. The Wildcats added another run in the 5th when shortstop CJ Debennedetto lead off the inning with a bunt that forced an errant throw to first. CJ later scored that inning on another Justin Wernoski base hit. The Tigers woke up in the 4th inning putting two base runners on board but could not yield a run off of the hard throwing Fajack. The Tigers finally got on the scoreboard in the 5th inning when catcher Drew Govert reached base on a hit by a pitch by a very unusual errant fast ball by Fajack. Govert later scored when 2B Alex Rossman delivered an RBI single and coach Lee Land kept Govert’s legs churning around 3rd to deliver the score. The Tigers tied the game in the 6th when the second batter of the inning, 2B Colin Liebe delivered a base hit and later scored on a Wildcat fielding error off the bat of Tiger 3B Ryan Lonegan. The game remained knotted at 2 sending the intense contest into extra innings. The Wildcats appeared to have put the contest in their favor in the top of the 8th when, then 1B Ryan Fajack delivered a lead off single. Fajack then advanced to 2nd on a perfectly executed bunt by Wildcat left fielder Brad Rice. The next play thwarted the Wildcat scoring effort when Tiger reliever Tyler Hansen perfectly fielded a hard hitting ground ball off the bat of catcher Evan Harris back to the mound and caught Fajack diving back to 2nd after his secondary lead. Hansen then struck out Wildcat’s Tyler Peterson and Ryan McGlinn to retire the side. The score remained knotted at 2 until the bottom of the 10th inning when Tiger center fielder Tyler Tachman lead off the frame lining a high curve ball to left field. The next Tiger batter Jack Olcott then reached base on a Wildcat fielding error sending Tachman to 2nd base. Wildcat coach Matt Russell then opted to load the bases by intentionally walking Tiger SS Colin Liebe to put a potential force out at every base. Tiger clean up hitter right fielder Anthony Costellano then delivered the second offering into left field with a screaming line drive sending Tyler Tachman home with the game and conference winning walk off run. Bedlam then pursued with the Tigers dog piling into the center field area celebrating their much deserved conference championship. The Tigers ended their regular season with a 21 – 3 mark and prepare next week to open the NCHSAA Division 3A playoffs as a #1 seed.

The 97.9 The Hill High School Sports broadcast team was there to cover the incredible event. After 41 weeks, the game marks the final broadcast of the high school sports regular season. Please stay tuned as WCHL High School Sports will attempt to cover area teams in the upcoming playoffs if schedules permit.

You can hear the entire broadcast by clicking the link below. Fans from Vermont, Georgia, Washington State, West Virginia, California, South Carolina, and Kansas all sent notice of their listening to the broadcast. WCHL High School Sports would like to thank all area teams and listeners for their support.