Maggie Walker Governor’s School won its first region baseball title on Friday night, thanks to some timely hitting.
The hitting was timely in that it beat torrential rains, which ultimately caused the game to be called after five innings. The Green Dragons defeated Goochland 8-5, although both will advance to next weekend’s state semifinals.
“Our pitching and defense got us here, but the last few games we’ve been able to hit the ball pretty well,” said Maggie Walker coach Meade Langhorne. “Hopefully they can keep it up at the state tournament.”
The Bulldogs fell into a five-run hole out of the gate, but stormed back to tie the game in the top of the fourth, as the whole lineup came to the plate.
MWGS pitcher Nathan Berry was cruising, and hadn’t allowed a hit into the fourth inning. After allowing a one-out single, two fielding errors extended the inning, and Goochland’s John King cleared the bases with a double to deep left that scored three runs.
The game remained tied 5-5 until the bottom of the fifth, when Maggie Walker struck again.
Frankie Celentano had a leadoff hit to get things started, his third time reaching base in the game.
Teammates Matthew Pinson and Forrest Smith followed with hits of their own, Smith’s a long double that was held in the park by a gust of wind — a hint of the weather that was to come.
In the top of the sixth, Goochland had a runner on first when lightning strikes delayed the game. After extended rains, the teams agreed to call the game, with Maggie Walker players informed in the locker room that they were the Region 2A East champs.
The players celebrated their school’s first such title, but the celebration was short-lived. Both teams will now prepare for next weekend’s state tournament, in which they could face each other again if they both win.
The Dragons will face Grayson County on Friday, while Goochland will face Virginia High.
Goochland 000 05 — 5
MWGS 140 03 — 8
G: Murray, 1 2/3, Falconer, 2 1/3, Mayosky, 1. MWGS: Berry 3 2/3, Celentano, 1 1/3
