By Randy Arrington
LURAY, May 23 — The Luray Bulldogs halted the recent momentum of Mountain View girls soccer with a 6-0 semifinal win on Tuesday in the Bull Run District Tournament. The victory advances the No. 2 seed to Thursday’s Bull Run championship at top-ranked and undefeated Clarke County (17-0).
The Generals came into Tuesday’s matchup with Luray having won four-in-a-row, including Monday’s upset of No. 3 Central in the quarterfinal round. The Bulldogs had eliminated county-rival Page, 5-2, the previous day.
Sixth-seeded Mt. View had only won three games all season prior to their recent winning streak. The Generals split with the Bulldogs during the regular season — having lost on the road, 5-0, on April 11; but then capturing an overtime, 6-5, win at home on May 11.
However, it was the Bulldogs who quickly jumped out to the lead and never looked back during Tuesday’s district tournament semifinal. Senior left wing Lauren Good struck first just under five minutes into the game, followed by a second goal less than five minutes later from junior Hazel Parlett, who also assisted on the first goal via a corner kick. Parlett was assisted with her goal by freshman Michaela Mason. Less than five minutes after that sophomore Kate Taglauer scored the first of her two goals on the day, assisted by freshman Alyssa Tiller.
With 25:33 left in the first half, Luray had jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Taglauer notched her second goal unassisted with 9:54 left in the first half, to close out the scoring at 4-0 at halftime. Luray would add two more goals in the second half from junior Savannah Owens and sophomore Ahdayis Whittaker to close out the 6-0 win and advance to the district championship.
The Bulldogs lost two regular season matchups with Clarke by a combined score of 11-0 and will certainly have an uphill battle in the title game on Thursday. The Eagles are a perennial soccer powerhouse in both the Bull Run and Region B, and the Bulldogs have become their perennial No. 2.
If Luray (13-5) can continue that trend through next week’s Region B tournament, then they can qualify for the VHSL Class 2 state soccer tournament in two weeks.
Bull Run District Girls Soccer Championship
7 p.m. Thursday, May 25 in Berryville
#2 Luray (13-5) @ #1 Clarke County (17-0)
BASEBALL
MADISON, May 23 — The Page County High School baseball team pulled off an amazing, 9-7, upset on the road of top-seeded Madison County Tuesday in the Bull Run District Tournament semifinals. The Panthers put together 14 hits, while committing no errors in the field.
Following a five-run second inning, Madison jumped out to a 6-2 lead. The Panther tied the game at 6-6 with four runs in the top of the fourth, only to lose the lead again in the bottom half of the inning as the Mountaineers went back in front 7-6. Page then added a run in the fifth, sixth and seventh to cap the scoring at 9-7.
The Panthers were lead at the plate by senior Adam Short and sophomore Tyler Shifflett, who both went 3-for-4. Short had a triple on Tuesday and through two games in the district tournament, the senior is hitting 6-for-8 (.750). Page left five runners stranded, while Madison left eight on base.
Fourth-seeded Page County (10-12) now faces No. 2 East Rockingham (17-4) for the Bull Run District Tournament championship at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 25. The Eagles defeated No. 3 Mt. View, 4-1, in Tuesday’s semifinal.
The Panthers dropped both regular season games to East Rock, but both were relatively close games. Page fell on the road, 5-4, on April 18 and then at home, 5-2, in Friday’s regular season finale.
The Panthers are fortunate to be in the title game after an up-and-down season that saw a six-game losing streak heading into May. However, they have a real chance against the Eagles, having won five of their last six, and if they can produce a repeat performance in next week’s Region B tournament…Page could even sneak into the VHSL Class 2 state tournament in early June.
Bull Run District Baseball Championship
6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25 in McGaheysville
#4 Page County (10-12) @ #2 East Rockingham (17-4)
SOFTBALL
SHENANDOAH, May 23 — The Page County softball team narrowly escaped an upset in Tuesday’s semifinal with a close 4-3 win over fifth-seeded Central on Tuesday. The Falcons had upset No. 4 Strasburg 3-0 in Monday’s quarterfinal, but the visitors couldn’t keep the Cinderella story alive.
However, the Panthers will not be facing the Eagles of East Rock in the district championship…as everyone expected. The third-seeded Eagles of Clarke County pulled off a 2-0 upset over No. 2 East Rockingham in yesterday’s semifinal round. For a No. 3 seed, Clarke has struggled this season and held an overall record of just over .500 (at 10-8) just prior to the start of the district tournament.
The Panthers, although they have escaped a few close games recently, have remained fairly solid in nearly every aspect of the game. They will once again lean heavily on junior right-hander Bailee Gaskins this postseason. The two-year starter is likely to surpass 200 strikeouts in a season that already boasts eight shutouts, half as many no-hitters and one perfect game.
Page’s bats have also been fairly consistent up and down the lineup. The Panthers are lead by Division I-Radford commit Jocelyn Rinker, but the entire lineup is capable of stepping up and making a key hit when it’s needed.
The Panthers (19-3) are obviously looking to repeat as both Bull Run and Region B champions as they sit ranked among the state’s Top 10 in Class 2 softball. Last season’s state runner-up has only one goal in mind, but first they have to take care of business at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 25 against Clarke in the Bull Run District Championship.
Bull Run District Softball Championship
5 p.m. Thursday, May 25 in Shenandoah
#3 Clarke County (12-8) @ #1 Page County (19-3)
BOYS SOCCER
BERRYVILLE, May 23 — The undefeated Eagles of Clarke County (18-0) will host No. 2 Madison County (15-3) in boys soccer at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 25 for the Bull Run District Championship. Clarke knocked off No. 5 Mountain View in a semifinal on Tuesday, while Madison escaped No. 3 Strasburg, 2-0.
Two of Madison’s three losses this season were to Clarke. The perennial powerhouse will likely take the Bull Run and Region B crowns en route to yet another state tournament appearance.
Bull Run District Boys Soccer Championship
5 p.m. Tuesday, May 25 in Berryville
#2 Madison County (15-3) @ #1 Clarke County (18-0)
For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.
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