In a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats during a tense 7th inning, the Fort Defiance Indians squeezed past Riverheads 4-2 to keep their Shenandoah District title hopes alive. Coming into tonight, the Indians were tied with Wilson in the loss column, but they have swept both games from the Hornets. So if the Fort can win at Waynesboro in its regular season finale, they should be declared the district champs even if Wilson also finishes 10-2.
Riverheads jumped in front tonight when Logan Austin singled with the bases loaded. One run scored but the second guy was held at third in what was probably the right call because the visitors got the ball back in play very quickly.
The Gladiators took their 1-0 lead into the fourth inning, only to see the Indians turn to the long ball to surge ahead 4-1. Sorry I did not catch the players' names but a two-run shot put them ahead 2-1, and they added a single tally later in the inning. They followed that up with a solo shot in the top of the fifth.
Riverheads then clawed back with a single run in the home half of the inning to trim the lead to 4-2. After a scoreless sixth, things turned very interesting in the home half of the seventh.
The first batter, Chase Donathan, drew a walk. Henley Dunlap then slapped a double just inside the third base line to give the Big Red runners at second and third with nobody out. The table was set for the Gladiators to pull off a walk-off win or at the least tie the score, but the Indians somehow got out of the jam.
After the Fort recorded the first out, the next Gladiator walked to load the bases. The Indians then got the out they needed the most on a strike-out. Instead of getting the big hit they needed, the final Big Red batter hit a grounder to third where the Indian fielder only had to make a step or two to record the force out and give the visitors the hard-earned victory.
Clearly the two home runs were the key to the victory because the Gladiators actually played a great defensive game. They recorded two inning-ending double plays and catcher Chase Donathan nailed at least two, and maybe three Indians trying to steal second.
The RHS pitching trio of Levi Dunlap, Carson Kuhn, and Asher Falls also had decent outings overall but the Gladiators just did not get the hit they needed in timely situations. In addition to the frustration of losing on Senior Night, this game marked the third district opponent that the Big Red beat on the road but could not beat at home.
With that in mind, maybe the Gladiators will be more comfortable in their season finale, which will be in Gypsy Hill against the Staunton Storm. As of now, that game is scheduled for Wednesday night, but the weather forecast sounds like it might get postponed for a third time, as it was originally scheduled for last week but rained out twice.
Whatever happens to the Fort at Waynesboro and to Riverheads in Staunton, both teams are solidly in the Region 2-B playoffs, so there is a good chance they could meet again in a rubber match. If so, it sounds like each one of them would be quite happy to find out that they have to travel for that game.
In softball action, Riverheads could not produce another one of its one-run victories as the Lady Indians prevailed 6-1 in that contest. My sources tell me that each of those teams will also advance to regional play.
