By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, June 6 — The Page County Panthers were able to do just enough at the plate to extend their winning streak to 16 and get past the Islanders of Poquoson, 3-1, during a state quarterfinal on Tuesday. Page only had four hits, but right-hander Bailee Gaskins only allowed the visitors two. The Panthers now advance to a state semifinal against Region D champion Tazwell at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 9 at the Botetourt Sports Complex.
Southwest Virginia powerhouse Tazwell (17-4-1) heads into Friday’s semifinal after defeating last year’s state champion, Appomattox, 2-1, during Tuesday’s quarterfinal round. The Raiders defeated the Panthers, 1-0, in the bottom of the seventh in the 2022 state title game and had entered the 2023 state tournament after losing the Region 2C title to James River.
On the other side of the state bracket, James River defeated Region D runner-up John Battle, 3-2, in Tuesday’s quarterfinal, while Region A champion King William beat Region B runner-up Strasburg, 14-1. King William (24-2) and James River (23-1) will meet in the other semifinal at 1 p.m. on Friday in Botetourt.
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. Both King William and Page County will be the “Home” teams during the semifinals as the higher seeds.
King William (24-2) is currently ranked No.2 in Virginia’s Class 2 softball, according to MaxPreps.com, while Appomattox was listed at No. 3, Page County at No. 4 and Poquoson No. 5. The Statesmen of Randolph-Henry (20-2) from the James River District were still ranked No. 1 (as of Monday, June 5), despite a 2-0 loss to No. 2 King William in a region semifinal.
During Tuesday’s state quarterfinal at Alan Knight Field, the Panthers and the Region A runner-up Islanders were evenly matched on both paper and on the field. In the course of the regular season, Poquoson held their opponents to only 27 runs, while scoring 157 and recording eight shutouts. Page County held their opponents to 34 runs, while scoring 154 and also recording eight shutouts.
Through the first three innings on Tuesday, each team produced only one base runner, each by way of a walk. The Islanders’ Brooklyn Arneault notched the first hit in the fourth, but the visitors could not capitalize and stranded the first of five runners on the day.
Page County’s Jocelyn Rinker lead off the bottom of the fourth with a double and later scored on a passed ball. The Panthers picked up a second run in the fifth off a solo home run over the centerfield fence from junior Adryn Martin to lead 2-0 heading into the sixth.
Poquoson answered back in the sixth as Arneault picked up her second single, recording the only two hits for the Islanders on the day. The next batter hit into the game’s only error, which allowed the visitors an unearned run. In the bottom of the sixth, Rinker lead-off with her second double, followed by an RBI-double from Gaskins to finalize the scoring at 3-1.
On Friday, Rinker went 3-for-3 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI in the Region 2B championship. On Tuesday, the senior, who will play at Division I Radford University next spring, then followed that up with a 2-for-2 performance in the state quarterfinal with two doubles and two runs scored in a 3-1 game with only four Panther hits.
On the mound, Gaskins allowed no earned runs and only two hits, while striking out 12 and walking three.
On Tuesday, Gaskins was also named the Region 2B “Player of the Year”. A week prior, the junior right-handed hurler earned the same honor in the Bull Run District. The Panthers had three first team selections on the All-Region squad, including Rinker at first base, Gaskins at pitcher and junior outfielder Arianna Roudabush. Earning second team All-Region honors were junior third baseman Savannah Shifflett and Martin as an at-large selection.
The winners of Friday’s state semifinals will play in the state championship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 at the Botetourt Sports Complex.
VHSL Class 2 state semifinals — Friday, June 9
- 10 a.m. — Region B champion Page County (24-3) v. Region D champion Tazwell (17-4-1)
- 1 p.m. — Region A champion King William (24-2) v. Region C champion James River (23-1)
To purchase tickets for this weekend’s state semifinals,
visit https://gofan.co/app/school/VHSL
•••
To follow the VHSL Class 2 state tournament bracket, CLICK HERE.
•••
RELATED ARTICLES
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