Ever since the first “Chase the Win” game was played in 2021, Weston has always come away victorious. If there was any wonder if Weston High would be able to honor their beloved fallen coach with a victory this year the answer came before most fans in attendance even had a chance to get settled. 

Each season the WHS baseball team dedicates a contest to the memory of former coach Chase Frasier, who tragically lost his life in 2020. As part of the celebration, which this year included honoring the seniors on the team, Cooper Delaney was awarded the annual Chase Frasier Memorial Scholarship. 

Riding the emotional tide, the Wolves exploded for a season best 18 runs in the bottom of the first inning, against district 1B foe Castor to remove any doubt as to the outcome. By adding 8 more runs in the bottom of the second, and upping the lead to 26-0, the game was called due to the “mercy rule” when Castor failed to score for the third straight inning.  

It was a total team effort as by the time the first frame was over, Weston had batted around twice and sent 23 batters to the plate. What made the improbable outburst all the more impressive was that 15 of the runs were scored after two out had been made in the inning. Drew Browning got the scoring started with a two run home run that scored Drew Williams who had come on to pinch run for  Cole Tolar who opened the contest with a single. Consecutive walks to Braden Theriot, Tait Henderson and Cooper Delaney set the stage for a sac fly by Tayt Culpepper to up the lead to 3-0 with two outs. Then the Wolves went wild to “chase” Castor right off the field. 

Doubles by Layton Garrett and Browning sandwiched a Sawyer Watkins single and free passes to Tolar and Bryce Zehr to make it 8-0. After Theriot reached on a fielders choice and Henderson got hit by a pitch, Delaney singled, Culpepper doubled and Garrett singled to make the score 14-0. Watkins and Tolar followed with walks, Zehr reached on an error and Browning and Theriot coaxed more walks to up the total to 17-0. Another error, this time on a ball hit by Tait Henderson plated the final run of the frame. 

The Wolves kept the heat on in the second as Culpepper opened with a double, Garrett took first on a dropped third strike and Kyptin Caskey reached on an error. Zehr’s single plated one run, Remy Kennard’s walk scored another and the Theriot climaxed the day by blasting a grand slam home run to left to make the score 24-0. David Gandy kept it going by walking, Delaney singled and Culpepper, Watkins and Tolar all drew base on balls to round out the scoring. 

Theriot led the offensive onslaught with career best 6 RBI and scored 3 runs. Garrett also had a career day with 5 RBI and 3 runs, while Browning knocked in r and scored twice. Zehr scored 3 times and knocked one in while Delaney scored three and had 2 RBI. Culpepper also had 2 RBI and scored twice as did Tait Henderson. Watkins scored two and knocked one in as well and Williams scored three times. 

With the victory Weston mathematically clinched the district title by improving to 5-0 in 1B play and improved to 18-9 overall. Castor fell to 0-5 and 3-12 on the year. 

WHS Seniors Honored

The five seniors on the WHS baseball team not only wanted honored their former coach with a win they also closed out their final home district contest of their career in fine style. 

After Tayt Culpepper, Cooper Delaney, Layton Garrett, Tait Henderson and Braden Theriot combined for 7 hits in 12 at bats, scored 13 runs and drove in 15 more it is safe to say that their mission was accomplished.