No local teams advance to state tournament
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, May 29 — The fifth-seeded Falcons of Central shocked the southern end of the Page Valley on Wednesday when they eliminated the top-seeded Page County Panthers from the softball postseason. A team that seemed destined to have a shot at a state title was denied a ticket to the state tournament after a 2-1 loss in the Region 2B semifinal at Alan Knight Field.
Page County finishes the season with only two losses, and entered Wednesday’s region semifinal on a 16-game winning streak. The Panthers won the Bull Run District regular season with a perfect 15-0 record, and took the district tournament title over Strasburg last Thursday. They won their Region 2B quarterfinal on Monday by slaughter rule and outscored their opponents this season, 266 to 35.
That’s why Wednesday’s loss hit the home crowd hard. Even down to the last out in the bottom of the seventh, Page still had an opportunity to win…or at the very least extend the one-run game into extra innings. In total, the Panthers stranded 14 runners during the region semifinal. During two innings, Page had the bases loaded with one out and could not convert a run, including their final at-bat. In fact, Page County had runners in scoring position during all seven innings, but they were only able to score one run.
A lot of credit goes to Central freshman Alexis Burkholder, who picks up the win in the circle after holding the Panthers to only one earned run and two hits while striking out seven. However, the freshman gave up 13 walks and hit two batters. Those factors are what loaded the bases twice for Page.
The Falcons scored both of their runs in the fourth inning off an RBI-double from sophomore Vanessa Gordon and a Page error. The Panthers’ only two errors of the day both came in the fourth — one to put the lead-off batter on base and another accounted for an unearned Falcon run.
Page County answered with their only run in the fifth, off a sacrifice fly to right field by sophomore Kahlei Shifflett. Senior Arianna Roudabush recorded the Panthers only two hits of the day, both singles. Fellow senior and future teammate at Division II Coker College, Bailee Gaskins pitched a strong game despite the loss, only giving up one earned run and two hits in seven innings, while striking out 10 and allowing no walks. The Panthers finish the season at 21-2.
Burkholder and Gordon recorded the only hits for Central, as they both went 1-for-3. Gordon had the Falcons’ only RBI. No. 5 Central moves to 16-6 on the season and now travels to No. 2 Riverheads (10-6) on Friday at 5 p.m. for the Region 2B championship.
OTHER REGION SEMIFINAL RESULTS
BUCKINGHAM, May 29 — The Luray Bulldogs fell, 2-0, to the undefeated Knights of Buckingham County in a Region 2B baseball semifinal on Wednesday. Luray finishes an up-and-down season at 12-11, but the Bulldogs claimed a Bull Run District title last week and hosted its first region tournament game in many years. Top-seeded Buckingham (18-0) will host Riverheads (17-5) at 4 p.m. on Friday for the Region 2B championship.
BERRYVILLE, May 29 — The Luray girls soccer team dropped a Region 2B semifinal to top-seeded Clarke, 8-0, on Wednesday. The Bulldogs finish a solid season at 12-8. No. 1 Clarke (16-4) now hosts No. 2 Central (17-3) at 5 p.m. on Friday for the Region 2B championship.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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