by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
Rappahannock hit three dingers in a Region A baseball game last Wednesday to beat Lancaster, 8-2, and eliminate the Red Devils from postseason play.
The Raiders went on to beat Windsor and advance to a semifinal game against West Point. Essex played Northumberland in the other semifinal and the winners will meet in the regional championship May 31 at the site of the higher seed.
In last week’s first round game, Matthew Kleinfelter retired six of the first seven Rappahannock batters and went five innings before Spencer Crittenden took the mound for Lancaster. Kleinfelter gave up seven hits and five runs with eight strikeouts. Crittenden pitched two innings with four strikeouts and four hits allowed for three runs.
Lancaster’s offense produced a run each in the second and third innings. Tahlik Redmond led off the bottom of the second with a walk for LHS, advanced to third on a bunt and stole home. In the bottom of the third, Adam Wilmore drew a lead-off walk, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball before scoring on a fielder’s choice by Kleinfelter.
Rappahannock put three runs on the board in the top of the fourth highlighted by a two-run homer then added two more in the top of the fifth on three hits and three more in the top of the seventh.
Lancaster left the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth.
