Riverheads vs West Point
- Thread starter Baseball215
- Start date
They were at solid team. They should have there number one on the mound as they burned him against rappahannock to play Northumberland. If they find info on Riverheads batting, they will shift the infield. The outfielders were solid they just about caught everything that came out there. Errors and walks is what scored there 4 of their 5 runs. They didn't hit anything special but had a couple that could find a hole. They will be without one of there top players as he was ejected for plowing the catcher I believe number 33. To be honest Riverheads shouldn't have anything to worry about. But then again it's baseball and anybody can have an off night.
West Point put up a good fight today, as they held the lead for the first three innings. Then a two-run homer in the top of the 6th brought them back to within one run at 7-6, before Riverheads put it away with a four-run uprising in the bottom of the frame.
All coaches and players would say it was a "team victory", but sophomore pitcher Elijah Dunlap certainly deserves special mention for this one as he pitched 5 + innings for the Big Red and helped his own cause with unofficially 5 RBIs on the day. Interestingly the Gladiators' hit advantage exactly matched the run total of 11-6.
Dunlap got the very first WP batter of the day to pop up, but after that the visiting bats smoked in the top of the first as they converted three hits and a Riverheads throwing error (fortunately the Big Red's only miscue of the day) into a quick 3-0 advantage. The respectable West Point crowd cheered on its appreciation while the Gladiator faithful was understandably a little worried.
However, as an early confidence-builder, the Gladiators came back in the bottom of the frame as Dunlap drove in his first two runs of the day to trim the deficit to only one run. If RHS had not responded as early as they did, it could have been a longer afternoon for the home team.
After a scoreless second inning, WP slammed a long one over the left centerfield fence to grab a 4-2 advantage. But Riverheads countered in the bottom of the frame as..........you guessed it.........Dunlap brought home two more in the bottom of the third to knot things up at 4-4.
RHS finally took the lead in the bottom of the fourth as they struck for three runs and seemed to be in control with a 7-4 advantage. After a scoreless fifth, WP made it interesting again as one of their guys squeezed one just a VERY few feet inside the left foul pole to close the gap to 7-6.
Fans were getting restless again, wondering if Riverheads was headed for its third straight one-run victory or worse yet, if the Pointers might steal one. But a deep double to straightaway centerfield (the Gladiators' deepest hit of the day) from sophomore third-baseman Braeson Fulton got the home half of the sixth off to a fine start and four runs later, including Dunlap's fifth RBI, the Gladiators punched their ticket to the state semis.
They will now face Northumberland on Friday morning at 10:00 AM at Radford University. The winner of that one will then play for the state title on Saturday morning, also a 10:00 AM first-pitch, against whatever team emerges from the Region C/D side of the bracket.
While the Gladiators were polishing off the Pointers, next door the ladies were punching their own ticket to Radford with an exciting 2-1 win over Windsor. From what we could tell, the Big Red trailed 1-0 late in the game but won it on a sixth-inning solo homer. They will now face Rappahannock in the state semis, also on Friday.
The Riverheads boys soccer team completed the trifecta as they made the long trip down to Middlesex and came away with a 3-1 victory. Not sure who or where they play next but all state titles in all sports will wrap up by the weekend. Not wild about that weekend forecast, but hey we have all "been there done that" lately.
All coaches and players would say it was a "team victory", but sophomore pitcher Elijah Dunlap certainly deserves special mention for this one as he pitched 5 + innings for the Big Red and helped his own cause with unofficially 5 RBIs on the day. Interestingly the Gladiators' hit advantage exactly matched the run total of 11-6.
Dunlap got the very first WP batter of the day to pop up, but after that the visiting bats smoked in the top of the first as they converted three hits and a Riverheads throwing error (fortunately the Big Red's only miscue of the day) into a quick 3-0 advantage. The respectable West Point crowd cheered on its appreciation while the Gladiator faithful was understandably a little worried.
However, as an early confidence-builder, the Gladiators came back in the bottom of the frame as Dunlap drove in his first two runs of the day to trim the deficit to only one run. If RHS had not responded as early as they did, it could have been a longer afternoon for the home team.
After a scoreless second inning, WP slammed a long one over the left centerfield fence to grab a 4-2 advantage. But Riverheads countered in the bottom of the frame as..........you guessed it.........Dunlap brought home two more in the bottom of the third to knot things up at 4-4.
RHS finally took the lead in the bottom of the fourth as they struck for three runs and seemed to be in control with a 7-4 advantage. After a scoreless fifth, WP made it interesting again as one of their guys squeezed one just a VERY few feet inside the left foul pole to close the gap to 7-6.
Fans were getting restless again, wondering if Riverheads was headed for its third straight one-run victory or worse yet, if the Pointers might steal one. But a deep double to straightaway centerfield (the Gladiators' deepest hit of the day) from sophomore third-baseman Braeson Fulton got the home half of the sixth off to a fine start and four runs later, including Dunlap's fifth RBI, the Gladiators punched their ticket to the state semis.
They will now face Northumberland on Friday morning at 10:00 AM at Radford University. The winner of that one will then play for the state title on Saturday morning, also a 10:00 AM first-pitch, against whatever team emerges from the Region C/D side of the bracket.
While the Gladiators were polishing off the Pointers, next door the ladies were punching their own ticket to Radford with an exciting 2-1 win over Windsor. From what we could tell, the Big Red trailed 1-0 late in the game but won it on a sixth-inning solo homer. They will now face Rappahannock in the state semis, also on Friday.
The Riverheads boys soccer team completed the trifecta as they made the long trip down to Middlesex and came away with a 3-1 victory. Not sure who or where they play next but all state titles in all sports will wrap up by the weekend. Not wild about that weekend forecast, but hey we have all "been there done that" lately.
As a West Point faithful, I just have to say Riverheads was a class act from what I saw. They were well coached, and the facilities were top notch. Beautiful baseball field. Its no wonder to me why they are so good in all sports. Their facilities are something we can only dream about in West Point. Their kids are also very good and classy.
Thanks to Northumberland principal and AD, we didnt have our best hitter because he didnt slide at home on a play and was ejected. They did not agree that is was not aggresive and he had to sit out this game also. We will never know if it would have made a difference but it sure didnt help.
Anyone that saw the play, knows it was not malicious.
Also great turnout from the West Point faithful to make the 2.25 hr trip on the same night of the sports awards.
But Congratulations Riverheads, you earned it and I hope you can send Northumberland packing.
Thanks to Northumberland principal and AD, we didnt have our best hitter because he didnt slide at home on a play and was ejected. They did not agree that is was not aggresive and he had to sit out this game also. We will never know if it would have made a difference but it sure didnt help.
Anyone that saw the play, knows it was not malicious.
Also great turnout from the West Point faithful to make the 2.25 hr trip on the same night of the sports awards.
But Congratulations Riverheads, you earned it and I hope you can send Northumberland packing.
Anyone on the west point side might of saw it that way.I don't mean to start anything but the boy trucked the catcher, the pros are even outlawing it. The boy lowered his shoulder running home that's how people get hurt. If he wants to lower his shoulder tell him to put some pads on and do it in the fall. He was ejected out of the game that's an automatic 3 game suspension. It could have been appealed but still would have been a minimum 1 game.
Not sure why WP would blame the NHS leaders, didn't the umpire make the call?
The WP kid not only didn't slide but ran directly into the NHS catcher (yes lowering his shoulder) and the catcher was knocked down.
Sorry but the announcers on the radio also seemed to agree with the call. They try to be as neutral as possible.
The WP kid not only didn't slide but ran directly into the NHS catcher (yes lowering his shoulder) and the catcher was knocked down.
Sorry but the announcers on the radio also seemed to agree with the call. They try to be as neutral as possible.
After an ejection (and this is true for most Va high school sports) the school can appeal. It takes both principals and the Umpire's Assigning Commissioner to overturn the suspension. More than just the Northumberland Principal and AD....the hit was pretty much clear cut and the right call was made on the field and the next day....how do you not slide at the plate on a squeeze attempt??
The kid stopped before he got to home plate then tried to get the ball out of the catchers glove.
Radio announcers from Tappahanock as neutral as possible. Lol. Yea their not Northern Neck biased at all.
I imagine their principal never played sports and was picked on as a kid by kids that did play. And the AD was just going to agree with him to keep his job. Playing God to keep a 16 yr old from playing in state tournament.
Umpire even made sure he gave our coach his phone # incase there was an appeal.
Go Gladiators!
Radio announcers from Tappahanock as neutral as possible. Lol. Yea their not Northern Neck biased at all.
I imagine their principal never played sports and was picked on as a kid by kids that did play. And the AD was just going to agree with him to keep his job. Playing God to keep a 16 yr old from playing in state tournament.
Umpire even made sure he gave our coach his phone # incase there was an appeal.
Go Gladiators!
Wow west point loves to make excuses must be sniffing to many paper fumes. Heard plenty last fall in football about refs and looking out for northumberland in regionals and now the principal is really playing God to keep a kid who did something that would have gotten him ejected out of an MLB game from playing.
"The kid stopped before he got to home plate then tried to get the ball out of the catchers glove." Nice....the part about trying to get the ball out of the catcher's glove is in itself grounds for a DQ. Contact on a stationary defensive player who is possessing the ball other than a legal slide is not allowed. You just explained yourself why the WP kid was ejected. The part about stopping before he got to home plate is laughable. 6 ft 180 lbs catcher hit so hard he was sent sprawling is more accurate. The baserunner also went high with elbows and forearms. Last, why would the umpires have DQ'd the kid if their intention was to advise their assigning commissioner the overturn the suspension? In life you get to choose the behavior but you don't always get to choose the consequence. I'm done with responding to this thread because its clear we are debating a teenage kid-- very likely one that was involved in the incident.
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Sometimes life lessons are hard ones to learn hopefully the player learned from it and we move on when West Point played Riverheads they played with class, players talk to one another and it was a good game just one of those things that happen in the heat of the battle.
One thing I was wondering about regarding the West Point/Riverheads game if anyone happens to know.......When the kid hit the home run in the fourth inning (the solo shot) I heard his dad approach a Riverheads administrator and ask how he (the dad) could go about retrieving the ball that his kid had hit. I guess he wanted it for a souvenir.
All I overheard was the principal telling him that the AD had gone after the ball, since it would have landed down on the football field. So just out of curiosity, since I wouldn't know one way or another......would one school allow another to keep the ball in that situation? or did it maybe belong to the visiting team anyway? or are baseballs maybe so expensive that a school wants to hang to every one they possibly can?
Just curious to know how that turned out or how situations like that are handled in general.....as others have said, this was overall a well-played, sportsmanlike game and if there was any controversy, I don't remember it.
All I overheard was the principal telling him that the AD had gone after the ball, since it would have landed down on the football field. So just out of curiosity, since I wouldn't know one way or another......would one school allow another to keep the ball in that situation? or did it maybe belong to the visiting team anyway? or are baseballs maybe so expensive that a school wants to hang to every one they possibly can?
Just curious to know how that turned out or how situations like that are handled in general.....as others have said, this was overall a well-played, sportsmanlike game and if there was any controversy, I don't remember it.
