Honaker’s Caden Altizer leads off first in the season-ending loss to Chilhowie.
By ANTHONY STEVENS
EMORY (June 1, 2026) – The Tigers stayed in the game with Chilhowie for three innings, but the final two frames turned ugly. The Warriors defeated Honaker 11-0 in the Region 1D semifinals at Porterfield-DeVault Field on Emory & Henry University’s campus. It marked the fourth time this season that Honaker has lost to the Warriors.
The game was close early on, with Chilhowie taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Brycen Sturgill singled and then scored on Brandon Miller’s double.
“Brycen has been a catalyst for us in the postseason,” Chilhowie coach Jeff Robinson said. “Miller, too. Coming into today, he was 8-for-10 in the playoffs.”
That’s where the score remained until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Tigers had some opportunities. Chilhowie starter Tyler Gonzalez struggled with control, walking five batters the first four innings.
Honaker (17-10) couldn’t deliver a clutch hit. Landon Schneider had the Tigers’ first hit in the fourth. Honaker left five runners stranded through four.
“We had a lot of opportunities early to capitalize, maybe even take the lead or cut into their lead,” stated Honaker coach Derrick Murphy. “Chilhowie executed and didn’t leave runners on. That was the difference.”
Jake Rasnake appeared safe sliding into second base, but was ruled out in the first inning of the Tigers’ loss.
Gonzalez had seven strikeouts and allowed only two hits in throwing the five-inning shutout.
“Tyler has pitched 14 innings against Honaker this season and allowed five singles,” Robinson noted. “He allowed one run against them in the extra-innings game at Chilhowie. Other than that, he’s been lights out.”
Chilhowie (18-7) broke it open and ended it early, scoring 10 runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Sturgill was 3-for-3 to lead the attack.
“It’s wonderful just to be around a bunch of great guys,” commented Sturgill. “I’ve met a lot of people. To be in this many playoff games, you have to have a good team around you. It means so much to me.”
The Warriors play with confidence when Gonzalez is on the bump.
“When Tyler is on the mound, you can’t help but feel safe,” Sturgill said. “You know it will be a good start. You get to watch a good pitcher pitch and play his game. I’m more excited than ever. We’re heating up. It’s going to be a great season.”
Chilhowie totaled 11 hits against four Honaker pitchers.
“We’ve been hitting up and down the lineup in the postseason,” stated Robinson. “I’ve been waiting for that all season long, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“These seniors have been to the state tournament all four years now. They know what it’s like to play this deep. We’re alive another week.”
It was a disappointing loss, but it didn’t dampen the Tigers’ solid season.
“Anytime you can get this deep into the postseason, it’s been a successful season,” declared Murphy. “I told the guys we did a good job, battling through all the injuries we had to deal with all year long to get to this point.”
Chilhowie 11, Honaker 0
Honaker000 00—0 2 1
Chilhowie010 46—11 11 0
- Musick, Schneider (4), Ball (5), Reynolds (5) and Beavers. Gonzalez and Bowman. W—Gonzalez (7-2). L—C. Musick (6-4). HR—B. Robinson (C), 5th, one on.
