Chase Fulford, who threw a one-hitter, delivers pitch for Team Goon in the Fall League semifinals.
By Sean Reilly
No matter what happens during the remainder of his baseball career, Chase Fulford will always remember the 2024 baseball season.
Back in the spring, as a junior, he helped his Central Bucks East High School team make history by reaching the Pennsylvania state tournament for the first time ever.
In the summer, he had a solid campaign playing for the Bucks County Generals.
Fulford, who verbally committed to Binghamton University in 2022, had one last thing to do before heading into the off-season.
He linked up with a number of players in the Central Bucks area to form Team Goon, which entered itself in the highly-competitive Diamond Nation High School Fall League.
Fulford was the leadoff batter and starting pitcher on Wednesday night, when sixth-seeded Team Goon faced seventh-seeded Montgomery Superior in the playoff semifinals.
He went 2-for-3 at the plate, with two doubles, and also pitched a seven-inning one-hitter, with 13 strikeouts, three walks and one hit batter, as Team Goon gained a 3-0 win.
Team Goon went on to defeat the ninth-seeded NJ Jays, 10-2, for the championship later on Wednesday night.
Fulford, with a fastball clocked in the 80s and a nasty curve in the 70s, was in a groove from the first pitch, after striking out the first two batters of the game. He ended a 1-2-3 opening inning by getting a groundout to shortstop, which was part of an errorless defensive performance by Team Goon.
“This year was really fun,” he said. “Our school never made the states before, and I got to play with Chase Harlan, who was drafted (in the third round) by the Dodgers. I played on a good travel team in the summer and then we put this team together because some of us didn’t have a place to play. I’m also going to go to Binghamton University, and I feel blessed to be able to do that.”
Fulford led off the bottom of the first with a double to right-center, but was thrown out at the plate after trying to score on Mike Koldhoff’s single to right.
Koldhoff advanced to second on the throw, and after a fly out to center, scored the first run as Brett Barrett reached on a throwing error.
The tone for the remainder of the fast-moving game was set in the second inning.
Montgomery threatened in the top half, after Chase Koplitz led off and was hit by a pitch. He stole second, and after a strikeout, moved to third on a groundout to shortstop. The next batter had a 3-2 count before Fulford got a called third strike.
Montgomery Superior catcher Matthew Falzarano tags Team Goon runner attempting to score.
In the bottom of the frame, Nick Mutchler led off for Team Goon and reached on an error. Matt Sharkey was up next, and hit a stand-up triple to right field for a 2-0 lead.
Michael Graban hit a grounder to short, and a throw to the plate erased Sharkey. The next batter grounded out to third, with Graban moving to second. Graban then stole third, and continued home when the throw sailed past the base.
After that, Fulford was in complete control. The only hit for Montgomery came when Michael Meyers singled to center with two out in third.
Robert Petrone drew a lead off walk to start the seventh inning for Montgomery, but Fulford struck out the next three batters to end the game.
“This was fun stuff,” he said. “My breaking ball was really good and my fastball had some run. It all went well. It was nice out, warm and just a beautiful day.”
Brandon Shimp made a quality start for Montgomery Superior. He pitched the first five innings, allowing five hits and no earned runs. He struck out one batter while issuing two walks. Will Macken struck out two in pitching a scoreless sixth inning.