PREP BASEBALL: Chupp chips in on mercy rule, senior night victory for Fairfield

BENTON — It was a grateful Grady Chupp that stood and reflected on a night’s work and a prep diamond career.

Batting seventh and playing shortstop for Fairfield Thursday, May 14 in a Northeast Corner Conference high school baseball victory against visiting Prairie Heights, the senior scored four runs, stole three bases and produced two assists and a putout on defense.

The Falcons won 15-5 in six innings and improved to 8-12 overall and 3-5 in the NECC while the Panthers fell to 4-13 and 0-8. It's the third consecutive win at home for Fairfield and the team's fourth win in their last five games.

Besides Chupp, representing the Fairfield Class 2026 on Senior Night was Landon Beasy, Grady Garber, Cole Knight, Logan Miller and Breckin Stair.

“I’m just thankful for every day we get to play baseball,” Chupp said. “Our team’s playing great.

“It was a struggle at the start of this season, but it’s coming around. I’m just thankful for my teammates and coaches and everybody who’s come together.”

Advice from coaches rings in Chupp’s ears.

“They say to battle every at-bat and play as a team,” he said. “We did that today.”

Knight — in his first year of baseball — was a courtesy runner and pinch-hitter and received a big ovation from the crowd.”

“We love that kid,” said Chupp of Knight. “It was a special moment for him and the team.”

Led by sophomore Kyler Castetter (3), Grady Garber (2) and junior Drew Beachy (2), the Falcons came away with 11 hits against three Prairie Heights right-handed pitchers — sophomore Easton Coney (three innings, nine runs, seven hits, four strikeouts), sophomore Devan Castner (two innings, four runs, three hits, four walks) and junior Reed Dempsey (2/3 innings, two runs, one hit) and benefited from nine errors by the visitors.

“Was it the prettiest game?,” Fairfield coach Darin Kauffman said. “Not really. But we put the ball in-play up and down the lineup and made some good (defensive) plays, too.”

Castetter knocked in three while Garber and Logan Miller drove in two each for Fairfield.

While Chupp pilfered three bases, the team wound up with seven steals. The Falcons left six runners on (two in scoring position).

The Panthers finished with six hits — all off left-hander Grady Garber in four innings and none against freshman right-hander Drew Tobias in two frames. Garber struck out six, walked one and threw 46 of 66 pitches for strikes. Tobias whiffed four, walked none and racked up 22 strikes in 37 pitches.

Prairie Heights stranded four runners (two in scoring position).

Fairfield tallied the game’s first two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Lead-off man Beachy reached on a throwing error, stole second base, moved to third on a one-out infield single by Miller.

A two-out single to center pushed Miller to third base and he scored on a throwing error.