by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
Stonewall Jackson held Lancaster to three hits and took advantage of six errors to eliminate the Red Devils from post season play last Wednesday with a 13-0 shutout at Dream Fields in Kilmarnock.
Stonewall Jackson, who was seeded seventh in the Region 1A East baseball tournament, upset two opponents to advance to last Friday’s regional championship where the Raiders nearly upset top-ranked Windsor. Windsor edged Stonewall Jackson, 2-0, in the final. Both will play this week in the Group 1A tournament at Radford University.
Stonewall Jackson got by second-seeded Central Lunenburg, 4-3, in the quarterfinals and Lancaster beat Mathews, 7-3.
Stonewall Jackson pushed across two runs in the top of the first and one in the second then got a one-out home run from Cole Holsinger in the third to take a 4-0 lead on Lancaster’s home field last Wednesday.
The Raiders scored two more in the top of the fourth off two hits and an error and capitalized on a bases loaded, no outs situation to start the sixth, scoring five runs off two errors, four hits and a sacrifice. Stonewall Jackson scored two more in the top of the seventh off two errors, a double and a single.
“Stonewall Jackson just kept putting the pressure on us, chipping away with a run or two every inning,” said LHS coach Welby Saunders. “And the errors we were making came from the pressure and just the youthfulness of our team.
“We knew going in Stonewall Jackson was going to be a tough team. They are very senior heavy and a solid team. Being in a regional semifinal was new for most of our players but it was good experience for next year.”
Adam Wilmore went 2-for-3 and Talik Redmond was 1-for-1 to account for Lancaster’s offense.
Lancaster went through three pitchers including starter Spencer Crittenden, Danny Hinson and Nick Wohleking.
