The championship hangover is a real thing, and the Trojans experienced it firsthand yesterday in Valpo. After securing the conference championship at home on Tuesday, this one lacked the feel of any Chesterton-Valpo contest I have ever been a part of since there was nothing truly at stake. The team went through its motions but giving the whole heart for this one was not as automatic as prior contests. The unfortunate thing about it was that, John Knight, the starting Trojan pitcher, could have easily won this with some timely hitting as opportunities presented themselves throughout the game. The way the kid has pitched this season, you would love to have seen him go to 7-0 instead of 6-1. Chesterton managed just five hits against the wildly effective starter from Valpo and they all came from the top four hitters in the lineup. Rob Czarniecki(1-4, K) hit a shot off the pitchers' glove that was too hard for him to handle in the fifth while Caden Hackett(2-4, RBI, 2K) got knocks to left and right in his first two plate appearances. Eli McClelland(1-3, RBI, 2K) had a knock his second time up, roping a single to right center and Troy Barrett(1-2, R, BB) found the 5-6 hole in his last trip. Chesterton scored their two runs in the third with both reaching via the hit by pitch. Nate Redman(0-2, R, 2K) wore one and advanced when Isaiah Prater(0-1, BB) bunted him over and Barrett wore one and promptly scored after singles by McClelland and Hackett who were both credited with two-out ribbies. The Trojans would threaten in the fifth after Czarniecki singled and Barrett worked a walk. McClelland moved them up into scoring position, but Hackett and Gary Kirkland(0-1, K) went down on strikes. Valpo scored their runs with one in the first, two in the fourth and two in the sixth. The two teams will likely face each other next Friday evening in the IHSAA Sectional hosted by Chesterton which begins Wednesday with Valpo facing Merrillville.