By Dan Smith

Chase Smartt launched a big two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a tie score, sending the Trojans of Charles Henderson High to a 7-5 win over Class 5A rival Rehobeth, and securing the Area 3 championship Thursday night at Hogan’s Hole.

Smartt’s homer was one of four in the contest, as the Rebels blasted three and Smartt’s proved to be the game-winner for the Trojans.

CHHS swept every Area 3 opponent to finish 6-0 in area play this season. The Trojans defeated the Rebels 14-8 in the second game and stand at 31-2 on the season.

The Trojans took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning of the first game as DeAndre Pitts singled, Jason Fleming reached on an infield error, and both scored on a double to left field by senior Reilly Fox.

CHHS picked up another run in the bottom of the third inning when Austin Ingram doubled, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Pitts.

Rehobeth hit two homers in the top of the fourth inning to knot the score at 3-3, as Miller homered to left, Palmer walked and Browning launched a home run to center field.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Bryson Gandy and Fox reached on infield errors, Smartt and Ingram drew back-to-back walks to score Gandy, and Chase Hartley hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Fox for the 5-3 lead.

The Rebels bounced right back in the top of the fifth inning for two runs as Holloway doubled and Miller hit his second home run of the game to tie the score at 5-5.

In the bottom of the sixth inning Nick Lewis was hit by a pitch to lead things off, and with one out Smartt hit a monster homer slightly to the left side of center field, for the 7-5 advantage.

Hartley retired the last eight Rehobeth batters he faced after Miller’s homer to earn the win in relief of Reeves.

Fox, Smartt, Ingram, Hartley, Pitts and Cole Wilson had one hit each for the Trojans in the first game.

Reeves was solid in his pitching for the Trojans as the starter, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out two and walking only one. Hartley allowed two runs on two hits, striking out four over three innings.

In the second game the Trojans scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning as Reilly Fox reached on an infield error, Smartt doubled to left to score Fox followed by a double by Austin Ingram. Pitts was hit by a pitch, Cole Wilson reached on a fielder’s choice and Reeves drove in a run on an infield error, followed by a double by Fleming for the 5-0 lead.

CHHS added two in the bottom of the second as Smartt and Ingram walked, Pitts singled to left, Wilson doubled, and the Trojans led 7-0.

Rehobeth tacked two runs on the board in the top of the third inning but in the bottom half of the third Gandy reached on an infield single, Lewis doubled, Fox hit a sacrifice fly to right, Smartt walked, Ingram was hit by a pitch, Pitts singled to drive in two runs, and CHHS led 11-2.

The Rebels scored three more in the top of the fourth inning, but the Trojans tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Ingram walked, Wilson singled and Reeves homered to left for the 14-5 lead. Rehobeth scored its final three runs in the top of the seventh inning for the 14-8 final.

Leading hitters for CHHS were Pitts with two hits and three RBI, Reeves with a homer and three RBI, while Lewis, Fox, Smartt, Ingram, Fleming and Gandy with one hit each.