CHAFFEE ACE MOWS DOWN WOODLAND

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- It's scary to think how Matt Stroup would've performed had he been on top of his game.

After striking out 11 batters in five innings, after facing two over the minimum, after not allowing a ball out of the infield, all Stroup talked about was his "poor" control.

Poor control? More like poor Woodland.

Stroup was nearly untouchable as Chaffee (10-1) won its 10th straight game Tuesday, a 9-0 victory over Class 2A district foe Woodland.

Stroup, who combined with Zac Horman on a one-hitter, allowed one hit, an infield single, and walked two in a dominating performance against a team that was 7-2 going into the game.

"I threw too many pitches," Stroup said. "I went to too many 3-1, 3-2 counts."

And then there were those two walks, including one in the first inning which was erased by a double play.

"After a game, I always think I could've pitched better," Stroup said. "Unless I didn't walk or hit anybody."

Stroup struck out the side in the second and third innings. He got two strikeouts in the fourth and three more in the fifth. Stroup was lifted at the completion of the fifth once the game was in hand. Woodland batters couldn't catch up to his fastball and flailed at his curve.

"I knew he was going to throw well," Woodland coach Barry Stafford said. "We had some opportunities and just couldn't get it done. And he's not going to give you many chances."

With Stroup on the mound, Woodland needed to play almost perfect baseball, but it definitely wasn't one of the Cardinals' best days. Woodland had some defensive miscues and failed to make some plays that it could've made.

Chaffee took advantage, particularly in the third inning when it sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs. A walk, an error and a bunt single loaded the bases for G.P. Glueck, who rifled a triple to right field to drive home three runs. Glueck later scored on an RBI single by Rusty Duncan. Travis Hanback, who reached on a walk, later stole home and Shawn Powderly drove home the final run of the inning on a sharp single to left.

Chaffee actually scored the only run it would need in the first inning when Jeremy Lynn reached on a bloop double, went to third on a single by Perry Rice and scored on an error.

The Red Devils, who have not lost since a 3-1 season opener to Cape Central, scored two more in the fourth when Stroup reached on a single, Glueck reached on a double, followed by an RBI groundout by Hanback and an RBI single by Duncan.

"We look at offense as a plus," Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said. "We'd rather have pitching and defense. And right now, everything's going well for us. The offense right now is an added bonus."

Woodland starter Kyle Long was chased after four innings of work. He allowed nine runs, seven earned, on 10 hits and two walks. Long, who struck out four, was victimized by two errors and a handful of plays that should've been made but weren't.

"Pitching was not the problem," Stafford said. "They had some hard-hit balls, but sometimes that won't happen if you make the plays early on. Chaffee takes advantage of any mistakes you make. They're really good at that."

Horman pitched the final two innings for Chaffee. He issued two walks, but held Woodland hitless. He struck out one.

Stroup, Glueck, Duncan and Powderly had two hits apiece for Chaffee, which ended up with 12 hits total.

Luke Johnson pitched well for Woodland in relief. He pitched two scoreless innings and gave up two hits and a walk.