Three players from Luray contribute to making history for Woodstock team now headed to Little League Southeast Region Tournament July 11-13
~ Article submitted by Jeremy Leake
VIRGINIA BEACH — For the first time in its nearly 70-year history, the Woodstock-Edinburg Little League 50/70 baseball team is headed to the Southeast Region Tournament. During the last weekend in June, the Woodstock-Edinburg Little League 50/70 All Stars captured the state title in Virginia Beach, going 4-1 in the Little League state tournament.
Established in 1956, the league has been a cornerstone of youth sports in the community, fostering teamwork, sportsmanship, and a love for the game. This historic achievement marks the first time any team associated with Woodstock-Edinburg Little League has advanced to a regional championship, a milestone that reflects the hard work, dedication, and talent of the players, coaches, and supporters who have poured their hearts into the program.
The community proudly rallies behind this remarkable team as they represent the league on the regional stage. The team was formed through a collaboration between Woodstock-Edinburg Little League, Luray Little League, and Mount Jackson/New Market Little League.
The team consisted of seven players from Woodstock-Edinburg, three from Luray and one from Mount Jackson-New Market Little League, and was managed by Jason Walker. Josh Wilberger served as Head Coach and Ira Poplar-Jeffers served as Assistant/Pitching Coach.
The Woodstock-Edinburg portion of the team has been together for five years and all of the boys have played together on various other teams throughout the years. The team was selected shortly before the end of the regular season with an emphasis on positive team culture and a focus on the small things first. They practiced for several weeks leading up to the tournament, splitting time between Riverview and Ralph Dean parks.
The team faced Union Little League and went down 4-0 in the first inning. W-E answered back with three runs in the second due in part to a two-run single from third baseman Gavin Lutz. W-E took the lead in the third when centerfielder Braylon Walker scored on a wild pitch and catcher Jackson Wilberger scored on a straight steal of home. A three-run home run from Wilberger in the fourth all but clenched the victory. Woodstock-Edinburg went on to win 12-4.
W-E then faced Spotsylvania LL, knocking out their starting pitcher after 1/3 innings after he allowed four runs. Gavin Lutz and first baseman Jordan Hite went 3-for-3 with two RBIs each, and Jackson Wilberger drove in two with a home run to dead center. Braylon Walker collected two hits and Braylon Comer, Steele Sutherly, and Karter Raines each drove in runs to cement the victory. The pitching staff of Noah Lee, Braxton Dinardo, and Vance Jeffers struck out just under half of Spotsylvania’s batters and won 18-3.
W-E suffered its only loss in the tournament against Olive Branch, 9-1. The extreme heat combined with an exceptional pitching performance held W-E to one hit from Comer. Wilberger, who drew a walk, stole second and third, and then scored on a passed ball.
With the 2-1 record, Woodstock-Edinburg was seeded first and had the lowest runs allowed ratio overall going into the semifinals against hometown favorite Virginia Beach. Luray’s Noah Lee pitched a complete game shutout, allowing five hits across seven innings, issuing two walks and striking out five. Lee was backed up with amazing defense in the middle from shortstop Braylon Comer and second baseman Vance Jeffers with each making several above average plays. W-E manufactured four runs across the first six innings and then came alive, putting up seven in the seventh. DiNardo doubled deep to left field, scoring Hite who singled on a line drive to centerfield in the previous at-bat. DiNardo scored on an RBI ground out from Sutherly. Some untimely walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases; Lee, Lutz, and Wilberger each drove in runs during that rally, winning 11-0.
W-E faced Warwick LL in the championship game with 10 available pitchers. The lead was exchanged early in the game with Lee doubling, scoring Lutz, and DiNardo scoring on a wild pitch after a line drive double to the center field fence. Outfielder Grayson Albrite produced a beautiful bunt to load the bases in the second, but W-E could not capitalize on his efforts. The score was tied at 2-2 going into the bottom of the fifth when Wilberger drove in Raines and Walker who had singled ahead of him. Lee singled and Comer followed with a sharp ground ball which scored Wilberger. Hite ripped a ball down the left field line scoring Lee.
Braxton DiNardo pitched 5-2/3 innings for W-E and had a world class outfield of Sutherly (left), Walker (center), and Raines (right) behind him. Braylon Comer came in on the hill to get the save, giving up a seeing-eye single, then pitched to contact with two groundouts. The final out came when Warwick’s batter popped out to catcher Jack Wilberger in foul territory.
Woodstock-Edinburg captured the 50/70 Virginia State Championship with the 6-3 win.
The team reports to Kernersville, N.C. on Thursday to compete in the Southeast Region Tournament July 11-13, with the winner advancing to the Little League Intermediate World Series in Livermore, California.
ROSTER
Braylon Walker – CF – WE
Gavin Lutz – 3B – MNJM
Jackson Wilberger – C – WE (Captain)
Noah Lee – 3B – Luray
Braylon Comer – SS – Luray
Jordan Hite – 1B – Luray
Braxton DiNardo – LF – WE (Captain)
Vance Jeffers – 2B – WE
Steele Sutherly – RF – WE
Karter Raines – RF – WE
Grayson Albrite – OF – WE
For more information about the 2025 50/70 Southeast Region Tournament,
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