CHAFFEE CAPITALIZES ON REMOVAL OF 'HENS' ACE

CHAFFEE -- After watching Minnetonka, Minn., pitcher Andy Davidson strikeout 16 Chaffee batters and allow only a bunt hit in an overpowering 2-0 win late Saturday night, Chaffee knew exactly who they were going to see on the mound Tuesday in the winner-take-all final.

Sure enough, Davidson took the hill for Minnetonka. But it was hardly the same pitcher that blew 85-mile per hour fastballs past Chaffee batters Saturday night. Chaffee's players, initially dreading the sight of Davidson on the mound, noticed the difference.

"We were nervous until we saw him start out," said Chaffee shortstop and tournament MVP Tommy Stidham. "He wasn't throwing as hard as the other night."

He didn't throw as long either. Davidson lasted just three innings, before leaving the game with a tired arm and a 1-0 lead. Chaffee took advantage of Davidson's departure, scoring four runs off Minnetonka reliever Jeff Tenney in the fourth on the way to a 5-1 championship win.

Davidson's departure was bittersweet for the Chaffee players.

"We were wanting to get back at him because he shut us down the first game," said Chaffee catcher Josh Eftink. "But we were about ready for him to get out of there, because although he wasn't throwing his fastball as much, his junk was working pretty good."

Davidson didn't allow a hit to Chaffee, but narrowly escaped a bases-loaded situation when a groundball up the middle by Eftink was fielded on a diving play by second baseman Scott Bogen to end the inning. After the inning, to the surprise of many, Davidson was taken out of the game by Minnetonka manager John Dahl. He had only two strikeouts.

"Their coach said he was through," said Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett. "He didn't have near the pop he had the other night."

Dahl declined comment after the game.

With Davidson out, the game certainly turned Chaffee's way. Chaffee's first six batters reached safely to start the four-run fourth, even though it appeared Tenney was throwing harder than Davidson.

"(Tenney) was actually throwing harder than (Davidson)," said Chaffee's Dusty Leggett, who plated the go-ahead runs in the fourth with a bases-loaded single.

Graviett credited the players preparation before the game as the main reason they were able to get around on the hard-throwing pitchers of Minnetonka.

"They came out for batting practice this morning and scooted the L-screen up," Graviett said, referring to the screen that protects the batting-practice pitcher. "They were taking b.p. just as close and fast as they could get it."

With all the hype around Davidson, Chaffee's Dustin Glastetter -- making his first appearance in the tournament -- pitched the game of his life. Glastetter pitched all seven innings, striking out nine, walking two and allowed only five hits.

"(Davidson's) a real good pitcher and he'll probably go pretty far in his career, but today I had what it took to win," said Glastetter. "We were nervous about Davidson pitching, but we knew we had what it took to win. We have a lot of talent on this team."