Bull Run rivalry swapped lead in three straight innings and was tied five times
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, May 16 — Despite the differences in their records, the Luray and Page baseball teams seem to have a great deal of parity. On April 25, the cross-county rivals marched out their aces in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel that Luray won in walk-off fashion. On Friday evening, it was an offensive battle producing a combined 13 runs, 17 hits and 22 runners left on base.
The Bull Run District matchup was tied five times and swapped the lead during three consecutive innings late in the game. For each offensive or defensive spurt, the other team matched it…until the seventh.
In the first inning, both teams scored one run off one hit and one error, with both pitchers helping their own cause. The only difference — Luray stranded two runners, where Page only stranded one. The Bulldogs got a single from junior Connor Hilliard, who scored one batter later off a dropped ball in centerfield. The Panthers got an RBI-double from sophomore John Leake Jr. that scored junior Caden Combs, who reached on an error…a dropped ball in centerfield.
The second was uneventful as each side went down in order. Luray produced three singles in the third, with sophomore Braylon Brooks picking up an RBI and breaking the 1-1 tie. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to break the game open, if the two-out rally had continued, but they would leave the bases loaded and hold a 2-1 advantage until the fourth.
After going down in order in the third, Page County tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth thanks to a single by sophomore Grant Baugher and an error at third that scored him one batter later. Following the second of three errors on the day for Luray, solid defense would pull the Bulldogs out of the inning, including a play at the plate by sophomore catcher Trey Guzy. Page missed an opportunity and stranded two runners.
Luray retook the lead, 3-2, in the fifth off another RBI-single by Brooks, which scored Guzy. The Bulldogs had three hits during the inning and stranded two more runners.
Page County answered right back and took over the lead, 4-3, with two runs in the bottom of the fifth off an RBI-single from Leake and an error at second base. The Panthers could have swung the momentum of the game, as they left the bases loaded after scoring two runs off two hits, an error and two walks.
The lead again shifted back to Luray in the top of the sixth, 5-4, with two runs off two hits and an error. Junior Nick Cubbage belted an RBI-double, while Hilliard had an RBI-single. Page made a pitching change, and the Bulldogs would strand two more runners.
Once again, the Panthers had an answer — but not of their own making. Taking advantage of a pitching change by Luray, Page benefitted from four hit batters during the inning, one scoring an unearned run to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the seventh.
The Bulldogs closed out the contest in their final at-bat, retaking the lead, 8-5, off two hits, three walks and a hit batter. Junior Landon Pettit belted a towering solo home run over the left field fence to break the tie. The final two runs were unearned, off a hit batter and walk.
Luray was lead at the plate by Guzy, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. The sophomore also reached base all five times he stepped to the plate, thanks to an error, a walk and getting hit by a pitch. Hilliard, Brooks and junior Landon Wood all went 2-for-4 on the day. Brooks was the only Bulldog with two RBIs. Overall, the Bulldogs produced 11 hits, committed three errors and left 12 runners on base.
Leake was the only Panther with more than one hit. The sophomore went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Overall, Page recorded six hits, committed two errors and left 10 runners on base. Each team left the bases loaded twice.
On the mound, Leake gave up four earned runs and nine hits, while striking out seven and walking one in 5-1/3 innings. Page used four pitchers during the game, including three appearing in the seventh. Hilliard completed five innings on the hill for Luray, allowing two earned runs and four hits, while striking out seven and walking three. Brooks gets the win in relief after the 5-5 tie in the sixth.
With the loss, Page County (2-10, 3-15) will now conclude the regular season by traveling to Rappahannock (3-8, 8-9) for a 6 p.m. game on Tuesday, May 20 and then to Stonewall Jackson (0-11, 2-15) for a 6 p.m. game on Wednesday, May 21. The Panthers will likely be the No. 7 seed in the upcoming Bull Run District tournament and face No. 2 Central (9-3, 11-8) in the quarterfinal round.
With the win, Luray (7-5, 10-8) will now conclude its regular season by hosting Central (9-3, 11-8) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. During their last meeting, Luray lost an offensive battle, 12-11, in Woodstock on April 22. The Bulldogs could be seeded anywhere from third to fifth in the Bull Run tournament. After facing Luray, Central must play Strasburg (10-0, 15-2) before the postseason begins.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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