Chase Beckham Leads Sacred Heart-Griffin to Regional Championship Victory

LINCOLN — Chase Beckham has emerged as a vital asset for the Sacred Heart-Griffin baseball team, showcasing his talents on the mound during a crucial matchup. The junior right-handed pitcher faced off against Springfield High in the Class 3A Lincoln Regional final, securing a 4-1 win on Saturday, May 30.

The Cyclones, boasting a record of 25-7, are set to advance to the Mount Zion Sectional semifinals, where they will take on Normal U-High on Wednesday, June 3, at 6:30 p.m. This season, SHG has enjoyed success against the Pioneers (27-5), having defeated them twice earlier in the year—first 4-0 on April 28 and then 16-10 on May 14.

Beckham began the game with a shaky first inning but quickly regained his composure, pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing just one run, two hits, and six walks while striking out three batters. His approach is centered on inducing weak contact rather than piling up strikeouts. “I was just attacking everyone,” Beckham remarked. “I was just dialed in on each batter and just tried to attack them early and keep them off balance.”

With a season record of 6-1 and an impressive 1.69 ERA over 41 1/3 innings, Beckham has proven to be a formidable competitor. Coach Nick Naumovich praised his performance, stating, “He’s really competitive and challenged the hitters. Chase battled all day, and I couldn’t be more happy for him.”

The team’s defense also played a significant role in the victory, with sophomore Levi Daly making several key defensive plays, including a couple of impressive stops at third base. Daly, who contributed a triple at the plate, credited senior shortstop Carson Butler for his guidance. “I’ve just been kind of battling for position. I feel like I’ve just proved myself today,” Daly said.

Springfield High (16-20) briefly took the lead in the first inning with an RBI double from Wade Snyder. However, SHG responded quickly with back-to-back RBI singles from Mikey Groesch and Austin Rutter. The Cyclones added two more runs in the third inning, and despite multiple scoring opportunities for Springfield, they struggled to convert. Relief pitcher Drew Ward secured the save in the final 1 1/3 innings, contributing to the team’s solid performance. “They outplayed us pretty much in every direction,” remarked SHS coach Jim Steinwart. “If you don’t get hits, you don’t win games.”