Region 2B quarterfinal round-up ~ LHS baseball, PCHS softball await Wednesday’s opponent; LHS girls soccer at Clarke
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, May 27 — In back-to-back, one-run ballgames, the Luray Bulldogs found a way to beat the Rams of Strasburg. Luray overcame a five-run deficit to win the Bull Run District championship at Strasburg on Friday. Then on Monday, the Bulldogs survived an extended, eight-inning battle to win a Region 2B quarterfinal at Bulldog Field.
Luray jumped out front early with an unearned run in the first, but Strasburg answered back with their own unearned run in the second. Both teams would commit two errors during the game, and the Bulldogs had both of theirs in the second.
The Rams broke the 1-1 tie in the third thanks to a sacrifice fly to left field by sophomore Brady Flynn. Trailing 2-1, Luray then exploded for five hits and three runs in the bottom of the third courtesy of an RBI-single from senior Jacob Shenk, a fielder’s choice hit by senior Christian Lentz, and an RBI-double from sophomore Tristan Haddock.
Great defense by both teams lead to a scoreless three-inning stretch. LHS senior and Hood College-commit Landon Vile has played outstanding at second base in the postseason since being off the field most of the regular season with an injury. Back-to-back diving catches by outfielder Nick Cubbage and Vile shut down the Rams in the sixth, and Cubbage threw out a runner at home to end the inning.
The Bulldogs should have ended the game with a 4-2 win in the top of the seventh, but a passed ball on a third strike — for the third out — allowed the runner to reach base. Flynn then belted a double to center field that drove in two runs for the Rams and tied the game at 4-4. Luray loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of three walks, but a base running error helped Strasburg escape a game-ending score.
Luray again loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth, with the help of a walk, a hit batter, and a great bunt by senior Mason Seekford. Vile then provided the sacrifice fly to deep center that won the game, 5-4.
Luray was lead by senior catcher Cameron Weaver, who went 3-for-3 with three singles and a walk. Vile went 2-for-4 with a single, double and an RBI. Shenk finished the game 2-for-3, also with a double, single and an RBI. Overall, the Bulldogs scored five runs off 10 hits and two Ram errors, while stranding 11 runners on base.
On the mound, Shenk went six innings allowing only one earned run and five hits. The Luray senior struck out three and walked three. Weaver picked up the win in two innings of relief, striking out three of the nine batters he faced and allowing no walks.
Strasburg was lead by sophomore Ryan Reynolds, who went 2-for-3 with a single and double. Five other Rams recorded a hit, while Flynn accounted for two RBI. Overall, the Rams scored four runs off seven hits and two Bulldog errors, while stranding eight runners on base.
Luray (12-10) now awaits the winner of the No. 1/No. 8 matchup at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, as top-seeded Buckingham (16-0) hosts eighth-seeded Fort Defiance (8-12). If the Knights win, the Bulldogs will travel to “red clay country” near Dillwyn on Wednesday to face the James River District champs…and the only unbeaten team in Class 2.
Page County 10, Fort Defiance 0
SHENANDOAH, May 27 — Top-seeded Page County overwhelmed No. 8 Fort Defiance during Monday’s Region 2B quarterfinal behind a dozen hits at the plate and a perfect pitching performance by senior Bailee Gaskins. The Indians failed to reach first base, and the Panthers closed out the 10-0 win in five innings via the slaughter rule.
Gaskins struck out 11 of the 15 batters she faced in the quarterfinal, and allowed no walks in a perfect five innings of shutout, not-hit pitching. The Division II Coker College-commit also went 1-for-3 at the plate with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth.
Page County put up four runs in the first inning off four hits, including a two-run home run by sophomore Kahlei Shifflett — her second home run of the postseason. The Panthers earned a run off a fielder’s choice, and senior Savannah Shifflett provided an RBI-double as well.
Page added a run in the fourth when senior Adryn Martin stole third and took home on an overthrow. The Panthers took a 5-0 lead into the fifth when they exploded for five more runs to end the region quarterfinal early. Gaskins’ lead-off, solo home run was followed a few hitters later by a two-RBI double by freshman Ava Marshall in her only at-bat of the day. Martin then hit a triple that knocked in another run. Sophomore Aliyah Knight got the final bloop single that pushed in the 10th run and eded the game.
Nine different Panthers recorded at least one hit, with sophomore Ali Purdham leading the way with a 3-for-3 effort after belting two singles and a double. Martin went 2-for-3 with a single, triple and an RBI. Overall, Page recorded 10 runs on 12 hits and three Indian errors, while stranding four runners on base.
No. 1 Page County (21-1) will now host the winner of the 4/5 matchup being played Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. as Buckingham (12-4) hosts Central (14-6). Wednesday’s Region 2B softball semifinal at Alan Knight Field starts at 6 p.m.
Luray 2, Stuarts Draft 1
LURAY, May 27 — Despite more than a half dozen shots on goal, the fourth-seeded Bulldogs struggled to find the back of the net early on and trailed 1-0 at halftime of Monday’s Region 2B girls soccer quarterfinal. However, the tide turned early in the second half as Luray recorded two goals in just over 10 minutes against the visiting fifth seed, Stuarts Draft. It would prove to be enough, as Luray advances to a region semifinal matchup at top-seeded Clarke at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29.
Stuarts Draft junior Lydia Monroe notched the only goal scored in the first half of Monday’s quarterfinal at Bulldog Field. Both teams traded momentum and offensive threats in the first half. Luray’s defense held off several onslaughts by the Cougars.
After missing a few open field opportunities in the first half, Luray junior Kate Taglauer didn’t take long in the second half to tie up the game at 1-1 with a goal just 95 seconds into the second frame. Just under nine minutes later, LHS senior Savannah Owens scored the go-ahead goal with 29:46 still on the clock.
The Bulldogs played much better ball control in the second half and seemed to pick up the pace of the game, as where the Cougars showed a little more dominance in the first period but seemed to fade as the game wore on. Luray’s defense held strong as the Cougars’ final shot in the final seconds rolled to the right of the goal and three whistles signaled the end of the match.
No. 4 Luray (12-7) now hits the road for a Region 2B semifinal at No. 1 Clarke (16-4) at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29. The two teams have met several times in the region’s final four — or championship game — in recent years.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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