By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – “Don’t you forget about me.” If Chase Rynders had a theme song, the iconic ballad from Simple Minds, the unforgettable hit from the 1985 classic film The Breakfast Club, would be perfect. Like actor Judd Nelson, pumping his right fist during the closing shot of the movie, Rynders clinched his in triumph.
Don’t forget about me. Rynders, with his batting average barely noticeable, just wanted a chance to swing, even if the numbers didn’t justify it. He discussed the situation with his head coach. That had to be a hard conversation.
With one connection, his bat did the talking for Rynders. And he’ll never forget it, an explosion that sent shockwaves through his body, his team, and the Hoosier Hills Conference.
Rynders crushed a spine-tingling, momentum-changing home run in the first inning, the charge point for Bedford North Lawrence’s 7-1 victory over New Albany in the opening round of the HHC tournament on Monday night. The Stars (9-8) avenged an earlier loss to the Bulldogs and advanced to face Jennings County in the semifinal of an event they’ve never won in the 50-plus years of the program.
That titanic blast, a three-run bomb to right with two outs, was all the run support BNL ace Cutler Chastain needed, as he allowed only four hits and struck out 10 in six innings of superb work. Cam Gates also homered, and the Stars scored in each of the first four innings.
Rain had kept falling on Rynders during his dry spell this season. Call his name or walk on by when making out the battling order? His persistence and patience were rewarded. He was alone, dancing (you know it, baby) during that home-run tour of the bases. Electricity surged through his veins and the BNL dugout.
“It was awesome,” Rynders said. “My legs were shaking, my hands were shaking. I loved it. It was working my tail off, all winter, all season. I should have more. There’s more to come.”
There was more to come after that cannon shot. Gates smashed his homer to right-center in the second. Rynders and Riley Sons connected for RBI singles in the third. Chastain and Jaden Gilbert lashed back-to-back, two-out doubles for a final run in the fourth.
On the flip side, the Bulldogs were muzzled by Chastain. Exactly a week ago, they got to him during a relief stint for a 9-8 win. Not this time. After an unearned run in the first, with two BNL errors allowing a gift, the Indiana State recruit was dominant. Maddox Garrison worked the seventh to keep Chastain’s pitch count below the 100 mark, allowing him to return later in the week – if the Stars can reach the championship round. That’s the plan.
“I think it’s a statement, I think we can win this thing,” Chastain said. “I just kept my composure. I showed them everything.”
Chastain had to escape one jam, when he allowed three singles to load the bases with one out in the third. But he struck out the next two. He got some help from J.J. Lirot, who made a sensational diving catch in left field in the sixth, and Jett Alvey turned a line drive into a double play in the seventh.
“It’s a huge win,” BNL coach Steven McNabb said. “Credit the players, it’s all about the players. When we were in a valley, I told them it was their team, it would go how they wanted it to go. We challenged them, and they did the job. They put it all together.
”We all wanted to see a Cutler statement game. And that was that. Now we’re set up with pitching, so we have a chance. It’s like poker, when you have a chip and a chair, there’s always a chance. We’re here to win it and make history. It might not happen, but at least we’re at the table.”
Rynders was 2 for 3 with four RBIs and Chastain had two hits.
“It’s been like the Raven at Holiday World, a true wooden roller coaster for Chase,” McNabb said. “He’ll be the first to tell you that. That swing of the bat was more than just the home run for him. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work and the great teammate he is. It lifted the entire team.”
“That was amazing to see,” Chastain said. “Chase just hammered one, gave me the lead. I know, from there, I can do the rest. I can get it done.”
BNL will host Jennings County (a 4-1 winner over Seymour) in the semifinal on Wednesday. Jeffersonville topped FC 4-0 in the other bracket, with the Devils advancing to face Columbus East.
