Noah Chavez delivered a masterful pitching performance to keep Chiles High School alive in the Class 5A regional semifinals, blanking Lincoln High School 1-0 on Saturday and forcing a winner-take-all Game 3.
Facing elimination after a tough 8-3 loss in Game 1, Chiles turned to their senior ace, Chavez, who responded with 6 2/3 innings of shutout baseball. The hurler struck out an astounding 11 batters while skillfully navigating Lincoln’s offense, scattering hits and repeatedly escaping jams as the Trojans could not capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Chavez, who boasts an impressive 0.81 ERA and 90 strikeouts this season, praised the intensity of the rivalry and the need for pinpoint pitching. “Sometimes you’ve got to know when you can or cannot strike somebody out and what their weaknesses are,” Chavez said after the game. “It’s hard to hit spots sometimes and going straight at them is my biggest thing.”
The sole run came in the third inning when Preston Ritchie doubled on a ground ball, allowing JR Thompson to score and put Chiles ahead. From there, Lincoln threatened multiple times but was held scoreless thanks to Chavez’s precise pitching and a relentless Timberwolves defense. The game’s final out was recorded by reliever Conor Borges in the bottom of the seventh inning.
“I can’t be any more excited about getting another shot in the playoffs this year,” Chavez said. “Hopefully we get the win tomorrow and play another game.”
With the series now tied at 1-1, Game 3 is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner will move on to face the victor of the Niceville-Mosley regional final. Chavez and Chiles look to extend their playoff run behind their senior ace’s dominant form.
Regional Playoff Rundown
The Big Bend region saw intense doubleheaders nationwide this weekend. In other key contests, No. 3 St. John Paul clinched both games over No. 7 Covenant to lead their series 2-0, while No. 1 Union County secured a 2-0 lead against Madison County. Meanwhile, No. 3 Lafayette fought back from an opening loss to win two straight games against No. 2 Aucilla Christian, taking their series 2-1.
Chiles’ next matchup will not only test their resilience but also showcase the impact of localized high school rivalries that energize communities and spotlight standout athletes like Chavez poised for collegiate success at Tallahassee State College.
The pendulum now swings dramatically toward Sunday’s clincher, and all eyes in the region will be locked on Chavez and the Timberwolves pitching staff to see if they can seize their place in the regional final.
“The seniors got to know that they have maybe only one more game left, so if you don’t play as hard as you can, there’s no point in going at all,” Chavez said. “Just got to win it.”
