Rollercoaster Ride to the Finish: Chaffee claims district title with win against Neelyville

Chaffee celebrates a 13-10 win against Neelyville in the MSHSAA Class 2, District 1 Championship at Frisco Park on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

CHAFFEE, Mo. — In a heart-pounding clash at Frisco Park, Chaffee delivered a stunning 13-10 victory over Neelyville in the MSHSAA Class 2, District 1 Championship on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Despite entering the game as the lower-seeded team, the No. 6 ranked Lady Devils (24-6) proved they had the heart of a champion, securing a district title for the second year in a row with the thrilling upset over the No. 4 ranked Lady Tigers (27-2).

“We came in here as the underdog and a little bit doubted,” said Chaffee sophomore pitcher Carlyanne Cossou. “But we rose to the occasion. We kept fighting and stayed mentally tough because that game was like a rollercoaster. We kept our seatbelts on the entire time and stayed with it.”

Chaffee's Carlyanne Cossou (9) throws a pitch during a 13-10 win against Neelyville in the MSHSAA Class 2, District 1 Championship at Frisco Park on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

The game began with Chaffee gaining a 1-0 lead when Cossou scored on an error in the top of the first inning.

Neelyville quickly responded, tying it 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning after Parker Ernst singled to score Reese Dobbins.

The Lady Tigers captured a 2-1 advantage in the second inning when Mallei Moss scored on an error. But the Lady Devils regained the lead 3-2 in the top of the fourth inning after Jordynn Brown singled to score Jersie Lynn and Bailey Robertson.

Chaffee's Millie Carroll (3) makes a catch at second base during a 13-10 win against Neelyville in the MSHSAA Class 2, District 1 Championship at Frisco Park on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Chaffee increased its lead to 4-2 when Cossou singled to score Brown.

“We have some tremendous youth league coaches in this town,” said Chaffee coach Brian Horrel. “They started these girls out when they were five and six years old. It’s paying off for our program, school and community. They’ve put all this blood and sweat in, and we’re benefiting from that.”

However, Neelyville narrowed the gap to 4-3 when Ernst scored on an error, tied it 4-4 when September Preslar scored on a fielder's choice and gained a 5-4 lead after Jade Crosswhite singled to score Miah Martin.

Neelyville celebrates during a 13-10 loss to Chaffee in the MSHSAA Class 2, District 1 Championship at Frisco Park on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Chaffee fought back, tying it 5-5 when Robertson doubled to score Lynn and then gained a 6-5 lead when Robertson scored on a passed ball later in the fifth inning.

A flurry of offensive activity in the top of the sixth inning propelled Chaffee to an 11-5 lead. Cossou scored on an error, while Reese Van Pelt delivered a powerful home run to score Millie Carroll and herself.

“We knew that today was going to be [Van Pelt’s] day,” Horrel said. “Last year, she carried us all season long offensively, and she hadn’t had her best day offensively yet this year. We knew today was the day and she was finally going to carry us. She came through in the clutch.”

Robertson continued the offensive onslaught, driving in Paizleigh Graham and Lynn with a timely single.

“The bottom of our lineup really came through,” Horrel added. “They all got on and when the top of the order came around, they did the damage.”

Just when it seemed like Chaffee had the game in hand, Neelyville staged a furious comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Lady Tigers' resilience was evident as they battled back from a big deficit, scoring five runs to keep the game within reach. The rally was sparked by Dobbins's RBI single, which scored Alicia Barker, Anna Lack, and Crosswhite. Dobbins later scored on an error, and Cloud added another run with a tag-up.

The Lady Tigers’ late-game surge brought the score to 11-10, but the Lady Devils responded with a crucial defensive play, throwing out a base runner at third base to end the inning.

“We talk about hidden outs all the time and that might have been one of the biggest moments of the game,” Horrel said. “Instead of them still batting with two outs and a chance to tie the game. That relieved the pressure, ended the inning and allowed us to get back a little momemtum heading into the ninth inning.”

Carroll and Van Pelt added a couple of insurance runs in the ninth inning after scoring on an error, and Cossou closed out the game in style, recording the final two outs with strikeouts. Cossou earned the win, pitching a complete game and allowing six earned runs on 10 hits while striking out eight and walking two.

“We were not sharp,” Horrel said. “All year long we have hung our hats on pitching and defense. Unfornately, our defense let our pitcher down, but she’s all-state for a reason. She kept throwing the ball and blocking everything else out. Luckily, the defense finally made just enough plays to take care of business. We’re lucky to have her in the circle.

“This is the type of game we prepare our kids for,” he continued. “It's about staying focused and never giving up. We thought we had it in the bag a couple of times and we thought we had lost it a couple of times. It just proved that anything can happen until the final out.”

Chaffee's victory was not just a triumph in the district championship but also a sweet revenge, avenging a 3-2 loss to Neelyville earlier this season.

“We knew today’s game was going to be a little more high-scoring because both teams were going to lay it all on the line,” Horrel said. “We saw that throughout the game.”

Chaffee will be on the road for the quarterfinal round, traveling to No. 10 ranked Elsberry (25-9) on Saturday, Oct. 26.

“I am ecstatic,” Van Pelt said. “I told everyone before the game it’s do or die. This was my last game on this field, no matter what and I wanted to go out on a positive note. I couldn’t have done it with a better group. I’m just pumped with the way we all stayed together. We rallied continuously, over and over to fight for that win. We earned it.”