By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

CENTRE – At the beginning of the 2026 baseball season, Cherokee County High School baseball coach Josh Decker kept tinkering with the Warrior lineup. As Decker puts it, he was “trying to find a recipe to win.”

He’s finally found it, and at the most crucial point of the season.

Coming into Tuesday’s Class 4A, Area 12 opener at home against sixth-ranked Alexandria, the Warriors had won six in a row. They’ve gained a tremendous amount of confidence down the stretch, and it showed again on Tuesday.

The Valley Cubs (18-10) battled back from a six-run deficit to take the lead with a seven-run top of the fifth inning. Instead of backing down, the Warriors turned things around by scoring six runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 13-9 victory.

The Warriors (14-11) are now just one win away from an area title. They travel to Alexandria on Thursday to finish the area championship series.

“Our guys, the past three weeks, they’ve just been tough,” Decker said. “They refused to quit. They refused to give up. They go up 8-7 after a seven-run inning after we had scored five. They had every chance to back down, but then we answered back with six. It’s just a relentless mentality. They’ve done a great job.”

All the more impressive about the Warriors’ latest win is they did it without one of their leaders.

Shortstop Adam Griffith injured his right shoulder running out a grounder at third. Griffith tumbled over first base and landed on his shoulder. He tried to give it a go in the field in the top of the second, but felt something was wrong and came to the dugout to get checked out by trainer Blake Revette.

Enter reserve player Daniel Neyman.

Neyman delivered a RBI-single to right field in his first at-bat in the bottom of the third inning. He drew a walk in a five-run bottom of the fourth, and reached on an error at third in the Warriors’ six-run fifth.

“That’s a hard situation for anybody, to just get thrown in like that, but Daniel’s been a guy who knows he’s a role player for us,” Decker said. “He’s been playing the game to where his mind’s right and he’s ready to go when his number is called.”

“When Adam went down, I was like ‘I’m in.’ I just got up there and I’m thinking no errors in the outfield, hit at the plate, and play my role,” Neyman said. “I was never more excited for a game in my life.”

It wasn’t just Neyman who stepped up at the plate for the Warriors.

Wyatt Baker went 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs. Owen Jacoway was also 3-for-5 with a run. Case Hill added a pair of hits and a run. Aiden Bobbitt also belted a pair of hits with a run and two RBIs.

Cayce Tittle doubled and scored a run. Nate Black contributed a hit, a walk, and scored three runs. James Hunter collected a hit, a walk, two runs, and a RBI.

Evan Hill relieved Warrior starting pitcher Cam Mayo with one out in the top of the fifth inning. He allowed just two runs over 2 2/3 innings to earn the win.

“We felt like we needed to go to Evan to mix things up,” Decker said. “We were able to get out of it (in the Valley Cubs’ seven-run fifth) and we were able to answer back.”

Cole Wheeler led the Valley Cubs at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Jeremiah Heathcock went 2-for-3 with a two-run double and a walk. Cooper Smith was 2-for-4 with a walk.

Cam Johnson doubled and walked. Jacob Slaton finished with a hit and drove in a run.

Caleb Frazier suffered the loss in relief of starter Brodie Barber, who worked 3 1/3 innings.

Alexandria also aided the Warriors by committing an uncharacteristic eight errors.

“Don’t let the box score, the errors, and the runs fool you. They’re a great ball club,” Decker said. “We didn’t play clean and they didn’t play clean, but we were able to make a little bit more happen. Sometimes you don’t play great and you can still win a ball game if you’re tough and you can stay consistent.”

And the Warriors did just that. Now they’re one win from an area championship and hosting a first-round playoff series. First pitch on Thursday at Alexandria is set for 4:30 p.m.

“I’m so excited to go over there,” Neyman said. “Hopefully we’ll win. I’ve never won an area title before, so it would be something new for me. I’m ready. Hopefully our sticks stay hot.”

“We can’t take anything for granted,” Decker said. “We’ve got to come in and (Wednesday) has got to be the best practice we’ve had all year.”