Baseball Earns First Conference Win over Chattahoochee Valley, 10-1
Phenix City, AL / Decatur, AL — Calhoun baseball opened Alabama Community College Conference play this week with a four-game series against the Chattahoochee Valley Pirates, dropping the first three games before breaking through with a 10-1 victory in the finale to earn the first conference win of the Cameron Chafetz era.
The series opened Thursday in Phenix City before shifting to Decatur on Friday.
Game 1 – Chattahoochee Valley 8, Calhoun 1
The Pirates struck early and controlled the opener, handing the Warhawks an 8-1 loss.
Freshman Cody Hodges took the start on the mound, pitching 3.2 innings while allowing four hits and six runs, three earned, with four strikeouts.
Calhoun managed four hits in the contest, highlighted by a solo home run from Jackson Firestone that accounted for the Warhawks' lone run. Trent Wilson led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance, while Jayson Smith Jr. added a double.
Kai Kuroda and Smith Jr. provided relief appearances to close out the game.
Game 2 – Chattahoochee Valley 12, Calhoun 4
The Pirates jumped out to a fast start again in game two, scoring six runs in the opening frame and eventually pulling away for a 12-4 victory.
Adam Yazel and William Singewald each drove in runs for the Warhawks, with Singewald recording two RBI. Seth Walton scored once and reached base three times via two walks and a hit.
Calhoun showed aggression on the bases, swiping multiple bags including three steals from Taisuky Rodriguez and two from Jackson Firestone.
Jayden Arroyo took the loss after the Pirates struck quickly in the first inning. Bryant Jones, Tatum Sivley, and Kaiden Wear combined to finish the game on the mound.
Game 3 – Chattahoochee Valley 19, Calhoun 9
Despite a strong offensive effort that produced 9 runs, Calhoun fell in a high-scoring affair in the third game of the series.
The Warhawks tallied eight hits and seven walks, with Adam Yazel going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Taisuky Rodriguez and Gavin Gonzalez each recorded two hits, while Noah Alburquerque drove in two runs.
Jackson Firestone, Seth Walton, and Rodriguez all batted in runs as Calhoun pushed across runs throughout the contest, but defensive miscues and big innings from the Pirates proved difficult to overcome.
Josh Burrell started on the mound before multiple relievers combined to finish the game.
Game 4 – Calhoun 10, Chattahoochee Valley 1
Calhoun responded in dominant fashion in the finale, posting 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, securing a 10-1 victory and the program's first conference win under Chafetz.
Seth Walton delivered an outstanding performance on the mound, tossing a complete game while allowing just five hits and one earned run over seven innings. Walton struck out eight and kept the Pirates' offense in check throughout the afternoon.
At the plate, the Warhawks produced 10 hits and seven walks to fuel the offense.
Trent Wilson led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 performance and two RBI. Gavin Gonzalez added two hits and drove in three runs, while Taisuky Rodriguez finished with two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. Seth Walton also contributed two RBI.
Calhoun built momentum early and steadily extended the lead before sealing the run-rule victory behind Walton's dominant outing.
Head Coach Cameron Chafetz said the series provided valuable insight into the team's depth and resilience. "We tried some new things this weekend and moved some guys into spots they're not always used to, mainly because we've got a pretty shallow staff and we're figuring out who can help us in different roles," Chafetz said. "The results in those first three games were tough, but I saw a lot of encouraging things from a group of guys that genuinely want to work and compete for each other every day. That attitude showed up in the last game, and Seth gave us a tremendous outing on the mound. It felt good to see it all come together and get that first conference win with this group."
Calhoun will take the field again on Thursday, March 12, at Lawson State for a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.