Chatfield senior Jake Winkler (7) and the Chargers’ dugout watch a long foul ball Tuesday against Dakota Ridge. Winkler belted a 3-run home run in Chatfield 12-1 win over Dakota Ridge. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
LITTLETON — Chatfield junior pitcher Blake Dickman helped himself out before he even took the mound Tuesday afternoon at Dakota Ridge High School.
Dickman belted a 2-run home run in the top of the first inning in the Class 5A Jeffco League baseball game that decided the No. 1 seed for the upcoming conference tournament.
“My approach going out there with two outs was to hit something hard,” Dickman said after a dominating 12-1 victory over Dakota Ridge in five innings for Chatfield (8-7, 5-2 in league). “I got a pitch I could handle and I didn’t miss it. That set the tone for the game and felt really good.”
It looked like Dickman wouldn’t be able to hit in the first inning with two outs, but Chatfield senior Jack Winkler worked a walk off Dakota Ridge ace Carter Akerfelds. Dickman took full advantage of his opportunity to give the Chargers an early lead facing one of the top pitchers in Jeffco.
“That’s huge,” Chatfield coach Matt Johnson said of grabbing an early lead. “Where we have struggled is we’ve played a lot from behind the first part of the year. Right now, I think we have a good groove and a good system. This team is dangerous.”
Chatfield tacked on a third run after Dickman’s blast. A walk, single and error allowed senior Alec Roach to score. The Chargers took a 3-0 lead headed to the bottom of the first inning.
The Chargers continued to use the long ball to eventually induce the 10-run mercy rule after five innings. Junior Matthew Moon hammered a 2-run home run off Akerfelds in the third inning to push the lead to 5-0. Winkler crushed a 3-run home run during a 5-run fourth inning for Chatfield.
“Chatfield was ready to swing it today,” Dakota Ridge coach Jeff Legault said.
Dakota Ridge’s Jake Starkey (8) forces out Chatfield’s Andrew Mangold. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Akerfelds came into the game with a 1.83 ERA, but allowed 10 runs on eight hits, including the three home runs.
“I have a lot of respect for Carter (Akerfelds),” Dickman said. “He is a great pitcher. It was fun to go against him head-to-head. He didn’t have his best stuff, but there is no doubt in my mind he’ll bounce back from it.”
Dakota Ridge senior Greg McNulty relieved Akerfelds in the fourth inning. Chatfield senior Nate Semmler and Winkler singled and eventually scored on the Eagles’ fourth error of the game to push the lead to 12-0.
“There was a little pressure on to try to get back to winning,” Winkler said referring to the Chargers’ 2-game losing streak that included a 12-0 loss Saturday to Ralston Valley. “I don’t think there were any nerves. Everyone is always excited to play Dakota. They are a big rival.”
Dakota Ridge (8-8, 4-3) prevented the shutout with a RBI fly out by senior Jake Starkey in the bottom of the fifth inning that scored sophomore Alex Overlie. Dickman picked up the victory on the mound with a complete-game giving up just four hits over five innings.
“Bouncing back from those two losses was huge,” Dickman said. “We needed this win big-time. Hopefully we’ll have great support from all of our fans like we did today and we’ll get the job done in league (tournament).”
The eight 5A Jeffco teams weren’t only bunched in their conference standings, but the RPI standings that will determine 32 teams that will move onto the regional tournaments. Only the 5A Jeffco League champion earns an automatic bid to the postseason.
Chatfield junior Blake Dickman rounds the bases after a 2-run home run. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“This is still wide open for anybody,” Legault said of the league championship. “Anything can happen next week.”
Heading into Tuesday’s league games, the eight 5A Jeffco teams landed between 20th and 41st in the RPI standings. The three games for all eight teams in the upcoming 5A Jeffco League Tournament (May 2, 4 and 6) will be critical on who will be headed to the postseason that begins with regional tournaments Saturday, May 13.
Legault believes the Eagles must win at least two of three league tournament games next week to guarantee a playoff spot.
“I like our team. I like our pitching,” Legault said. “Just get us in and I think we have a good chance. We’ve got to battle.”
Chatfield does have one last non-conference game 4 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Cherokee Trail before the 5A Jeffco League tournament begins Tuesday, May 2.
The math is simple for the Chargers to guarantee a postseason bid. If Chatfield wins the conference tournament it will win the league title and grab the automatic bid.
“Trying to win league is our first goal. We are in charge of our own destiny,” Winkler said. “When we are good, we are really good. We’ve just got to find a way to bring that every single game. We definitely can beat anyone in the state and Jeffco.”
Chatfield teammates greet Blake Dickman (5) after his 2-run home run Tuesday against Dakota Ridge. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)