CARROLLTON, Ala. — Chase Davidson is used to the silent treatment.
The Pickens Academy senior typically likes to be to himself in the dugout when he pitches, and his teammates usually oblige by giving him a wide berth.
Last week, the Pirates went out of their way to make Davidson feel alone. Davidson didn”t notice, though, just like he didn”t realize he was throwing a no-hitter against Southern Academy.
“I really didn”t know I was throwing a no-hitter until the last inning when the catcher came out and told me,” Davidson said.
Davidson walked three and struck out 18 on April 18 to lead the baseball team to a 4-0 win against Southern Academy.
The victory helped the Pirates finish 3-3 in the region and earn the No. 2 seed. Not only did Davidson pitch a complete game, but he also hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to secure the victory.
Davidson also had a single and two RBIs Friday in an 11-1 victory against South Choctaw Academy in five innings. That game helped the Pirates (11-12) earn the No. 3 playoff seed and secure a date against Autagua in a best-of-three series that will start at 4 p.m. Thursday with a doubleheader.
For his accomplishments, Davidson is The Dispatch”s Prep Player of the Week.
“I was really excited,” said Davidson, who believes he threw a no-hitter as a sophomore. “It was a good way to go out. I was able to paint the part of the plate pretty well and my curveball was working really good. The changeup I have been working on, I was able to get it down and away.”
Davidson is 4-2 with a 1.63 ERA. He has struck out 95 and walked 20 in 52 innings. The 5-foot-9 1/2, 165-pound right-hander, who will attend Shelton State Community College in the fall, also is hitting .387.
Davidson”s pitching statistics aren”t as gaudy as the past two seasons when he went 9-0 and 8-1 and had 111 strikeouts in 64 innings.
Last season, he earned a spot on the Alabama Independent Schools Association All-State Junior team.
This season, Davidson has blossomed into more than just a hard thrower with control. He credits Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Post 34 American Legion coach John Rushing for helping him incorporate a changeup into his repertoire. Even though he has had a lot of success being a power pitcher the past three seasons, Davidson knows he will need more variety when he gets to Shelton State.
Pickens Academy coach Brach White said Davidson has shown confidence in the changeup and has matured while remaining a power pitcher who relies on his fastball.
“He is a competitor on the mound,” White said. “He took control of the game (against Southern Academy) early. He has stepped up and been a good leader for us.”
Davidson is in his fifth season with the varsity team. He played some as an eighth-grader and pitched a little as a freshman before breaking out in a big way as a sophomore.
White said not a lot has changed with Davidson since last season. He said he can throw breaking pitches at any time in the count and always can rely on his fastball to overpower hitters.
Davidson said he has learned a lot since his sophomore season. He said he now feels more like a pitcher and not a thrower. Despite his gaudy strikeout numbers, Davidson doesn”t set out to record double-digit strikeouts every game. He realizes getting strikeouts usually means throwing more pitches, so he has adjusted and is more comfortable pitching to contact and relying on his defense.
When that doesn”t work, Davidson has the luxury of being able to reach back for a little extra to dominate hitters. That formula worked perfectly at a critical juncture and allowed Davidson to create a special memory in what could be his final game at home.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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