2-1 win over Strasburg propels Page to region title matchup with Central
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, June 4 — The Page County Panthers (21-3) are destined for another matchup with the Falcons of Central (20-2) in a rescheduled Region 2B championship at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 5 at Alan Knight Field. After cranking out 18 consecutive wins, the Panthers will now face the last team to beat them…6-4, back on April 2…and the same team that eliminated them from postseason play a year ago by a score of 2-1… both on Alan Knight Field.
Last season, that loss to Central not only knocked Page County out of the region championship, but it also cost them a ticket to the state tournament. This season, both teams have secured a place in the VHSL Class 2 State Softball Tournament June 10-14. State quarterfinals will be played at the higher seed on Tuesday, June 10, while semifinals and finals will be played at a neutral site on June 13 and June 14, respectively.
Thursday’s Region 2B championship was moved up one day due to impending weather forecast for Friday.
Page County reached the title game with yet another one-run win this season, defeating No. 4 Strasburg 2-1 at home on Wednesday. Freshman Summer Pence won the pitcher’s duel after only allowing one hit and no earned runs, while striking out 13 and walking two during a complete game performance. Central gained its only run in the region semifinal off of a throwing error and recorded its only hit off an infield single that hit the pitcher.
Strasburg’s Ava Mayhew struck out nine and gave up no walks in the one-run loss. However, the Page bats collected seven hits off Mayhew and earned both runs. Sophomore Ava Marshall belted a solo home run for the Panthers in the third, and junior Madison Phares hit a an RBI-double in the same inning.
Page County’s 2-0 shutout in the third held up until the fifth, when Strasburg junior Hannah Merriner posted their only hit and scored the Rams’ only run. Only three Strasburg batters reached base during the game, two by walks. The Rams stranded two, while the Panthers left six runners on base. Both teams committed one error in the field.
PCHS junior Kahlei Shifflett went a perfect 3-for-3 on the day, with a double and two singles. Five different Panthers had at least one hit.
No. 3 Central of Woodstock reached the region championship after defeating No. 6 Clarke, 4-1, in the quarterfinals on Monday; and No. 2 Fort Defiance, 5-2, in Wednesday’s semifinal.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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