Tonight around the league the eight qualifying Shenandoah District teams (with last place R E Lee not making the field) matched up in the quarterfinal games and as you may have already read, there was one shocking upset when number 8 seeded Luray won 1-0 at number 1 Page. But there were no such troubles at Riverheads as the number 2 Gladiators rolled over number 7 Stonewall 15-0 in a 4 1/2 inning mismatch. Riverheads will now host number 3 Wilson next Wednesday in the semi-finals after the Hornets held off number 6 Buffalo Gap 7-5. In the remaining quarter-final, # 5 East Rock traveled to # 4 Stuarts Draft. I have not yet seen a score on that one, although I saw one clue someplace that suggested that maybe the Cougars won. Whoever won that game, they will now host Luray in the other semi-final.
Jakob King earned the win on the mound for Riverheads tonight although as the score would indicate, this one was dominated by the heavy-swinging Gladiator bats. Stonewall tried at least three pitchers, maybe four, but no one could tame the Big Red. RHS scored three runs in the bottom of the first and then added a whopping 10 more in the second to settle the issue VERY quickly. Six of those runs scored before the Generals could even register the first out of the inning. Ironically, that onslaught ended only when Riverheads committed an overly-aggressive base-running error.
The closest Stonewall came to scoring was in the top of the fifth, their final at-bat due to the slaughter rule being imposed. With RHS ahead 15-0, Coach Painter gave some subs a chance to see some action, including some JVs who have stepped up for playoff action. One of them misjudged the lead-off hit by Stonewall, enabling the hitter to make it all the way to third.
But sophomore Adam Painter, who was making what is believed to have been his first appearance of the season, if not his career, came on in relief and pitched the fifth for the home team. After that lead-off hit, he bore down and retired the side, leaving that runner stranded on third and preserving the Big Red shutout.
As mentioned Riverheads will now host Wilson next Wednesday. The winner of that game will be guaranteed to then host the district title game, since Page has now been eliminated and because both RHS and Wilson are seeded higher than any other remaining team. That title game is set for Friday the 24th and the regionals then start the following week, after the Memorial Day holiday.
Page, despite its loss today, will hold on to its number one seed in Class 2, Region B, whereas Riverheads had had the Class 1 top seed nailed down for quite some time. But for district bragging rights, we hope that a number of other Shenandoah teams can make the regional field and better yet, make some noise once they get there.
Jakob King earned the win on the mound for Riverheads tonight although as the score would indicate, this one was dominated by the heavy-swinging Gladiator bats. Stonewall tried at least three pitchers, maybe four, but no one could tame the Big Red. RHS scored three runs in the bottom of the first and then added a whopping 10 more in the second to settle the issue VERY quickly. Six of those runs scored before the Generals could even register the first out of the inning. Ironically, that onslaught ended only when Riverheads committed an overly-aggressive base-running error.
The closest Stonewall came to scoring was in the top of the fifth, their final at-bat due to the slaughter rule being imposed. With RHS ahead 15-0, Coach Painter gave some subs a chance to see some action, including some JVs who have stepped up for playoff action. One of them misjudged the lead-off hit by Stonewall, enabling the hitter to make it all the way to third.
But sophomore Adam Painter, who was making what is believed to have been his first appearance of the season, if not his career, came on in relief and pitched the fifth for the home team. After that lead-off hit, he bore down and retired the side, leaving that runner stranded on third and preserving the Big Red shutout.
As mentioned Riverheads will now host Wilson next Wednesday. The winner of that game will be guaranteed to then host the district title game, since Page has now been eliminated and because both RHS and Wilson are seeded higher than any other remaining team. That title game is set for Friday the 24th and the regionals then start the following week, after the Memorial Day holiday.
Page, despite its loss today, will hold on to its number one seed in Class 2, Region B, whereas Riverheads had had the Class 1 top seed nailed down for quite some time. But for district bragging rights, we hope that a number of other Shenandoah teams can make the regional field and better yet, make some noise once they get there.
