Page travels to Region 2A winner King William Tuesday for state quarterfinal
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, June 5 — Page County and Central battled each other back-and-forth for five innings until the Falcons pulled away in their final two at-bats to claim their second-consecutive Region 2B championship, 10-5, on Thursday at Alan Knight Field.
It was Central who knocked Page County out of the state tournament a year ago, with a 2-1 win in the 2024 region semifinals. It was Central who last handed Page a loss (6-4), back on April 2. And it was Central who broke the Panthers’ 17-game winning streak.
When Page County beat Central on April 29, it was a 1-0 squeaker. And while pitching has been a strength of both teams this season, Thursday’s region championship was a high-scoring affair, featuring 15 runs and 19 combined hits. Each team left nine runners on base.
The most uncharacteristic feature of the game was the six errors committed by the Panthers, who allowed five unearned runs.
Each team put up a run in the first. Central benefitted from an errant throw, while PCHS junior Madison Phares earned a sacrifice RBI off a fielder’s choice. Each team then added three runs in the second. Central got RBI singles from lead-off hitter Kirsten Hockman and shortstop Vanessa Gordon, while adding a third run off a passed ball at the plate. The Panthers got three runs in one swing when sophomore Ava Marshall hit her second home run in two days to tie the game again at 4-4.
The Falcons broke the tie in the third off a beautiful sacrifice bunt by junior Hadley Witherow. However, the Panthers tied things up again in the fifth off an RBI-single from sophomore Danica Turner. The 5-5 tie would be short-lived.
Central exploded for three runs off just one hit in the sixth inning. Gordon picked up the RBI-single, while Hockman belted a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The Falcons got the third run off a Panther error. Central would add two more runs in the seventh, also off a Panther error.
Central was lead at the plate by Hockman, as the senior went 3-for-4 with three singles and two RBI. Senior Serenity Burnshire went 2-for-3, while Witherow went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Gordon went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Page County was lead by Phares, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. The Panthers recorded seven hits overall, compared to the Falcons 12.
Both teams now advance to the VHSL Class 2 State Softball Tournament, which kicks off Tuesday, June 10 with the quarterfinal round being held at the higher seed.
As the Region 2B runner-up, Page County (20-4) will now travel to the Region 2A champion, King William (19-2) for a 5 p.m. state quarterfinal on Tuesday. The Cavaliers defeated James River District champion Central of Lunenburg, 9-5, to win their third-straight Region 2A championship at home on Thursday.
As the Region 2B champion, Central of Woodstock (21-2) will host the Region 2A runner-up, Lunenburg. The Chargers were riding a nine-game winning streak prior to the region title loss.
For information about the VHSL Class 2 State Softball Tournament, CLICK HERE.
For additional TICKET information for the state tournament, CLICK HERE.
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