~ PVN staff report
Two local high school teams remain in the hunt for a Region B title, as the Page County High School softball team and the Luray High School girls soccer team picked up wins in quarterfinal round action on Memorial Day.
The Luray boys soccer team and the Page baseball team took tough losses in Monday’s first round and concluded their seasons.
SOFTBALL
SHENANDOAH, May 30 — It took only five innings for the Panthers to end the Rams’ season on Monday, as Page took the Region B quarterfinal round matchup, 11-1, via the slaughter rule.
The Panthers were lead by junior Jocelyne Rinker, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI. Sophomore Savannah Shifflett went a perfect 2-for-2 with one RBI. Senior and EMU-commit Taylor Umberger hit 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, and drove three balls deep to the outfield. Page recorded a total of nine hits on the day, while only committing a single error in the field.
Sophomore Bailee Gaskins picked up the win on the mound once again, allowing just one unearned run on two hits through five innings, while walking on one and striking out five.
It was actually the Rams that jumped on the scoreboard first, with an unearned run off a passed ball in the first inning. The Panthers evened the score in the second off a Shifflett single, before exploding for six runs in the third. Two of Page’s three earned runs in the inning were knocked in by big triples from Rinker and Umberger, while three runs were scored on passed balls at the plate.
Page tacked on one more in the fourth (passed ball at the plate) and three more in the fifth (all earned) — two off a Rinker double, and a game-winning RBI single from senior Emily McCoy, who pinch-hit for Gaskins.
Even with the 11-1 win, Page still left eight runners on base in just five innings. Strasburg left four.
Next up, top-seeded Page County (15-7) will host #4 Clarke (18-5) in a Region B semifinal on Wednesday, June 1 at 5 p.m. During the regular season, the Panthers split with the Eagles — losing 9-1 on the road April 5 before winning 6-2 at home one month later on May 5. The other region semifinal will feature #2 East Rockingham (17-6) hosting #3 Buckingham (15-3).
In other quarterfinal round action on Monday, East Rock defeated #7 Madison, 13-3, while Buckingham beat #6 Stuarts Draft, 9-1.
Wednesday’s winners will face off on Friday, June 3 for the Region B championship.
SOCCER
LURAY, May 30 — While the game went the distance, the Luray girls soccer team easily defeated East Rockingham, 8-1, in the quarterfinal round of the Region B tournament.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead by halftime and still lead 6-1 after the first 10 minutes into the second half. Sophomore Hazel Parlett finished off the scoring, adding two more goals for Luray in the final 21 minutes and advanced the Bulldogs to the semifinal round. Senior Emilee Weakley once again lead the Bulldogs in scoring with five goals.
Second-seeded Luray (15-3) will host #3 Strasburg (14-5) for a Region B semifinal on Wednesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. During the regular season, the Bulldogs won both matches with the Rams — 3-2 at home on April 4, and 4-2 on the road April 29. The other Region B semifinal will see top-seeded Clarke (19-0) hosting #4 Stuarts Draft (6-8).
In other quarterfinal round action on Monday, Clarke beat #8 Madison, 8-0; #4 Stuarts Draft defeated #5 Central, 4-2; and #3 Strasburg beat #6 Mt. View, 5-1.
Wednesday’s winners will face off on Friday, June 3 for the Region B championship.
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BERRYVILLE, May 30 — In the boys Region B soccer tournament, #8 Luray fell in Monday’s quarterfinal round, 14-0, to #1 Clarke. The Bulldogs close out the season at 6-10-2.
BASEBALL
STRASBURG, May 30 — The Page County High School baseball team ended their roller coaster season on Monday with a 9-3 loss at Strasburg in the quarterfinal round of the Region B baseball tournament.
Senior Aiden Painter lead the Panthers at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort and one RBI. Page only recorded five hits on the day, with seniors Mitchell Gaskins, Chase Parlett and Caleb Knighton each contributing one. The Panthers left seven runners on base, but only committed one error in the field.
Strasburg was lead by senior centerfielder James Sibert Jr., who went 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI. The Rams picked up nine runs on six hits and left six on base. They committed two errors.
The Panthers close out the 2022 season at 11-12 and graduate nine seniors. While Page’s bats sometimes ran hot and cold, the Panthers’ pitching never truly recovered from the loss of last year’s Region B Player of the Year Lance Williams, who transferred to 3A William Monroe in Green County for his senior season.
Last week, Painter was named first team All-District second baseman in the Bull Run. Two teammates were named to the All-District second team, including Knighton in outfield and Gaskins as an at-large pick.
Luray High School also had two selections on the All-District second team, including first baseman James Cash and pitcher Landon Vile.
The Bull Run District Player of the Year in baseball was Madison County senior Trey Deane. (All-District selections have not been released for other sports.)
For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.
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