By Randy Arrington
BOTETOURT, June 9 — The Page County Panthers stranded seven runners, including two on third base and six in scoring position, in a 5-0 loss to Region D champion Tazwell in a VHSL Class 2 state semifinal on Friday at the Botetourt Sports Complex.
The “final four” matchup remained scoreless through five innings in an intense pitcher’s duel between PCHS junior Bailee Gaskins and Tazwell sophomore Carly Compton. Gaskins retired 14 of the first 16 batters she faced, allowing one walk to go along with one error in the field. Heads up defense lead to the Panthers catching a couple of Tazwell runners off base at crucial moments — to close out the fourth, and for the second out of the sixth inning.
Gaskins got the first hit of the game — a single to left field — in the bottom of the third, but got stranded at second. The Panthers left two walked batters on second and third in the bottom of the first, a hit batter on second in the second, Gaskins got stranded at second in the third, and another walked batter remained at first base in the bottom of the fourth.
Compton retired 15 of the first 20 batters she faced, but gave up three walks, a hit batter and one hit through the first five innings. At that point, Page had been in scoring position three times, while the Bulldogs of Tazwell had reached first base only twice.
However, the bats of Tazwell woke up all of a sudden. After five hitless innings, the Bulldogs put together six hits in the sixth to earn three runs and take a 3-0 lead. The two-out rally that changed the game was almost thwarted twice — once when Compton dove to first base and barely beat out the throw for an infield hit, and again when Page was within one pitch of closing out the inning with no harm done.
However, harm was done and it could have been worse. When the top of the sixth closed out, Tazwell left the bases loaded. Most of the Bulldogs’ six hits were “pokes” of the bat that sent the ball just over the infield. At one point, Tazwell strung together four consecutive singles that moved batters around the horn and kept the bases full through four at-bats.
Tazwell added two more runs in the top of the seventh off two hits, a passed ball and a second Panther error in the field. Both runs were unearned and capped off the scoring at 5-0.
The Panthers made a final push in the bottom of the seventh after a lead-off single from junior third baseman Savannah Shifflett and double from freshman shortstop Ali Purdham soon after. However, with two on and only one out, the next two batters went down in succession to close out a stellar season for the Region B champs.
Page County finishes the season at 24-4 after capturing their second-straight Region 2B title and making their second-straight appearance in the Class 2 state semifinals.
Gaskins was named both the Region 2B and Bull Run District “Player of the Year”, as well as first team All-District and All-Region at pitcher. During the state semifinal, the right-handed hurler struck out five and walked two. Gaskins ended the season with nearly 200 strikeouts, eight shutouts and one perfect game.
Senior Jocelyn Rinker was a first team selection for All-District and All-Region at first base. She will be heading to Division I Radford University to play softball next season. Junior Adrianna Roudabush was also a first team All-District and All-Region selection in the outfield, while Shifflett (third base) and junior Adryn Martin (at-large) were second team All-District and All-Region selections.
Through 28 games this season, the Panthers scored 157, runs while holding their opponents to only 40 runs and recording eight shutouts.
All four region champions advanced to Virginia’s Class 2 “Final Four” in this weekend’s softball showcase — part of the Virginia High School League’s “Spring Jubilee” of state championships.
Region D champion Tazwell (18-4-1) will now face Region C champion James River (24-1) in the VHSL Class 2 state championship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 at the Botetourt Sports Complex. James River defeated Region A champion King William, 2-1, in Friday’s second semifinal.
To follow the VHSL Class 2 state tournament bracket, CLICK HERE.
•••
RELATED ARTICLES
Panthers survive Poquoson, 3-1, advance to state semifinal against Tazwell on Friday in Botetourt
Panthers capture second-straight Region 2B title behind Rinker’s two home runs
Panthers advance to Region 2B title game Friday, earn spot in Class 2 state tournament next week
Bulldogs, Panthers well represented on Bull Run’s All-District spring teams
Another walk-off win by Panthers captures Bull Run District championship, 5-4, over Clarke
Page captures Bull Run’s regular season title with come-from-behind, walk-off win over East Rock
Be the first to comment