Riverheads 4, Luray 2 FINAL

[jhwright]

The Riverheads Gladiators improved to 19-0 on the season with a 4-2 victory over Luray. On Senior Day, it was the senior Billy Coffin who pitched the complete game to pick up his third win on the season in as many starts. The lefty only gave up two hits, struck out 5 and only walked one batter. The two runs were unearned as Riverheads' defense, which has been stellar all year, showed some cracks committing three errors.

Riverheads got on the board first in the bottom of the third when Senior Chance Staton reached on an infield hit. After stealing second (Riverheads stole a total of eight bases today) advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher trying to pick Staton off at second. Senior Kyle Bishop drove in Staton on a groundout.

Luray answered back in the top of the fourth. After Coffin had set down the first nine batters he faced, Jacob Moyer led off the top of the inning with a clean single up the middle. Moyer advanced to second when Keaton Seal, the Bulldogs starting pitcher, reached on an infield error. Boo Dean then hit a sharp ball to Nathan Brooks at third, who throw to second to get the runner out. However, Riverheads couldn't complete the double play and that allowed Moyer to score to tie the score.

The Gladiators grabbed the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when Brooks hit a single to right-center field, scoring Bishop who had walked. After Luray made a pitching change, Ethan Whitehead hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Zach Roberts who had gotten on earlier with his second base hit of the game. The Bulldogs cut the margin to 3-2 in the top of the sixth, but the Red Pride answered back with an unusual scoring play in the bottom of the frame. With Senior John Weeks at third and Staton at second with no one out, Roberts hit a grounder to the second baseman who threw home and Weeks was tagged for the second out. However, Roberts got caught in a rundown between second and first which allowed Staton to come on around and score while eventually Roberts reached safely to second.

Roberts led the Gladiators at the plate going 2-for-4 with a RBI.

Riverheads will now play their third game in as many nights Wednesday when they travel to Stuarts Draft to play the improving Cougars in a make-up game. With a win, Riverheads' baseball team can claim the first undefeated regular season in school history. And after talking to several veteran newspaper reporters, we believe that would also be a first for any school in Augusta County.

 

[longtimerhsfan]

Terrific recap as usual.

The Gladiators were strong in some areas in this one, but a little off their usually-solid game in others, which could hurt them if they happen again in the playoffs. To emphasize the positives first, Coffin did a great job. That of course was important in terms of keeping others on the staff rested. Secondly, the Big Red ran the bases aggressively, including the eight steals you mentioned. Of course they were helped along in that department by the fact that Luray's catcher did not have any luck at all with his move to second. To my recollection, he did not nail anyone who was trying to steal all game.

However, and this was my major concern today, once the Gladiators got those runners in scoring position, they had great difficulty bringing them around. You didn't mention the number of runners left on base, but I am sure it was in the double digits today, and for only six at-bats, that is not a number you want to see. So to improve that as we advance into the post-season, the Big Red will need to focus on getting that key hit when someone is in scoring position. With the runners we had today, this could have and should have been at least a 6-8 run game.

You touched upon RHS having three errors, which is uncharacteristic of them. I might be able to cut them some slack on that because either one or two of those occurred at first base, which is Coffin's normal spot. So to have someone other than the normal guy in that very important position could have had something to do with it. But as the old saying goes, a win is a win and we will take it.

Let's hope the storms hold off tomorrow so we can get that much-anticipated final game in. Whenever it is played, I have no doubt that the Gladiators will be fired up and ready to play. As you mentioned, a perfect regular season would be a huge accomplishment and I am sure they want it badly.

 

[Keith_Stone33]

Who is having the better season in the shenandoah...

Riverheads baseball or Page County softball?

Both teams are undefeated, and look like they will represent the old shenandoah district well in the playoffs.

To answer my own question, I will give the edge to Page, because they have been mercy rule-ing teams lately

 

[rhsgrad]

Re: Who is having the better season in the shenandoah...

Great regular season on the part of both teams. Not sure who Page plays but RHS will have a tough game against Draft to see if they can remain perfect on the regular season. Now comes the part where regular season records are thrown out the window because if you lose you go home? Is that right? However the two teams that reach the conference tournament championship advance?

 

[longtimerhsfan]

Re: Who is having the better season in the shenandoah...

My understanding is that only the top two teams from the Conference playoffs advance. I get the idea that the region learned its lesson by allowing four teams per conference in the basketball playoffs and we are not likely to see that again.

Right now, RHS has the number one slot in the conference nailed down and East Rock is a solid number two. I think Gap is number three and Nelson is now number four. According to the paper, Wilson won a doubleheader over Gap yesterday and that was enough to vault them above Lee into the number five slot.

If all of that is true and stays the same, then Friday's first round would be: Lee at Buffalo Gap and Wilson at Nelson.

The Lee/Gap winner would then travel to East Rock next Tuesday while Riverheads would host the Wilson/Nelson winner.

The two winners would then play (next Thursday I think) for the conference championship, at the home of the higher seed. Both would then advance to the regionals but the winner of the conference championship would host a first round regional game whereas the loser would have to travel.

The regionals are held that first week of June and the next week is the state tournament. I am pretty confident all of that is right, but anyone who has more inside information should feel free to correct me where needed.