Prior to this just-completed school year, Riverheads and Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy had no history with one another. That changed back in August when the Big Red rolled past the Ospreys on the football field. But tonight the Gladiators learned that at SML, baseball must be their sport of choice as the visitors gave RHS all it could handle before the Gladiators rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to squeeze out a 3-2 victory and advance to Thursday's Region 1-B title game. As the number one seed, the Big Red will host that title game, but as of the moment I have not been able to find out who won the other semi-final between William Campbell and Luray.
The big story line going into tonight's game was SML's top-notch pitcher, freshman Peyton Conley. Many Gladiator fans had heard about his high-powered fastball and he was expected to prove difficult for the Gladiator hitters. RHS in turn countered with its own freshman, Jackson Berkstresser, to open the game.
The first inning proved to be quite interesting. Berk only tossed 18 pitches, but a solid hit to center field that was momentarily bobbled resulted in the first run of the game for the visitors. Then it was Conley's turn to show his stuff. However, he only threw one or two pitches before a bit of a controversy developed.
First the home plate umpire stopped the action and approached the mound. Then there were discussions with the other two umpires and with both head coaches. As near as the puzzled fans in the stands could tell, the umpire was concerned about the legitimacy of his mechanics. Since I personally know very little about the finer points of pitching, that is the only explanation I can give. The action soon resumed but considering the way the game ultimately went, it is possible that his confidence was rattled and threw him off his game.
Whether or not that was the case, by the end of the first frame, his pitch count was exactly double that of Berkstresser. However, he somehow managed to pitch a strong enough inning to keep RHS off the board. But as you can likely figure out, 36 pitches in one inning meant he was being worked to a lot of full counts and the Gladiators were hitting a lot of foul balls.
The second inning was almost a rinse-and-repeat. Berk only threw 12 pitches, but the first two batters reached safely, which ultimately led to SML plating its second run. Then in the home half, the Big Red hitters continued to challenge Conley and more importantly, raise that pitch count at a rapid pace. The more savvy fans in the stands started to do some math and realize that even if the Big Red had not scored yet, Conley was not going to last into the late innings, so something would have to give.
As it turned out, The Big Red caught three different breaks in three consecutive innings involving their lead-off batter, and scored a run in each of those frames. In the third, Ethan Mulcahy caught the Ospreys by surprise with a lead-off bunt. He eventually came around to score the Big Red's first run.
In the fourth, Daniel Craig led off with a solid double to center field, which led to RHS' second run. Then in the fifth, Conley hit Mason Miller with one of his final pitches, and the Gladiators were finally able to squeeze across what turned out to be the winning run on a hit to center by Berkstresser.
Conley's pitch count had reached an astonishing 90 by the end of the third inning. However the Osprey coaching staff rolled the dice and kept him in the game until he reached the maximum allowed 110, which came very early in the fifth shortly after he plunked Miller. His replacement, junior Brody Edwards, did a credible job as the Gladiators had a fair amount of trouble with him as well.
Speaking of Brodys that impacted the game, the Gladiators elected to replace Berk on the mound with senior Brody Phillips after the second inning. He gave up a few hits but in the stat that mattered the most, he kept the visitors off the scoreboard. However I believe his personal pitch count reached into the 90s for his five innings, which will likely keep him off the mound Thursday.
With RHS clinging to that 3-2 lead, we had one final anxious moment in the top half of the seventh. SML had a batter called out at first. However they challenged the play and it was overturned after input from the home plate umpire, allowing that runner (Conley in fact who was now playing shortstop) to stay on first. Then much to the delight of the Big Red fans, the game ended on a dramatic 5-4-3 double play. (I think I have those numbers right.)
In a way, that ending was almost fitting because by my count the Big Red failed on at least three and maybe four almost identical plays at earlier stages. In each case, they were able to get the important out at second but came up just short on the relay to first. But when they needed it the most, first baseman Holden Fitzgerald dug out the throw in plenty of time to end the game and send RHS to the regional final, and more importantly into next week's state tournament.
Congrats to the Gladiators for gutting out such a tough win. But hats off also to SML. I believe I am correct that this was their first year competing against VHSL teams. I am not sure what other sports that may entail but they showed us tonight that they will be more than capable on the diamond in the years to come. Maybe that confidence level will translate into success in other sports as well. Just a couple of months from now, the two football teams will meet again, as the Gladiators will make their first-ever trip to Moneta,
In other action tonight, the Lady Gladiators fell behind 2-0 on the road to William Campbell but came up just one run short on the comeback as WC held on to win 2-1. That ends RHS' season, but the Lady Generals will now advance to the 1-B title game. There is a good chance that will mean a trip to top-seeded Buffalo Gap for them.
The big story line going into tonight's game was SML's top-notch pitcher, freshman Peyton Conley. Many Gladiator fans had heard about his high-powered fastball and he was expected to prove difficult for the Gladiator hitters. RHS in turn countered with its own freshman, Jackson Berkstresser, to open the game.
The first inning proved to be quite interesting. Berk only tossed 18 pitches, but a solid hit to center field that was momentarily bobbled resulted in the first run of the game for the visitors. Then it was Conley's turn to show his stuff. However, he only threw one or two pitches before a bit of a controversy developed.
First the home plate umpire stopped the action and approached the mound. Then there were discussions with the other two umpires and with both head coaches. As near as the puzzled fans in the stands could tell, the umpire was concerned about the legitimacy of his mechanics. Since I personally know very little about the finer points of pitching, that is the only explanation I can give. The action soon resumed but considering the way the game ultimately went, it is possible that his confidence was rattled and threw him off his game.
Whether or not that was the case, by the end of the first frame, his pitch count was exactly double that of Berkstresser. However, he somehow managed to pitch a strong enough inning to keep RHS off the board. But as you can likely figure out, 36 pitches in one inning meant he was being worked to a lot of full counts and the Gladiators were hitting a lot of foul balls.
The second inning was almost a rinse-and-repeat. Berk only threw 12 pitches, but the first two batters reached safely, which ultimately led to SML plating its second run. Then in the home half, the Big Red hitters continued to challenge Conley and more importantly, raise that pitch count at a rapid pace. The more savvy fans in the stands started to do some math and realize that even if the Big Red had not scored yet, Conley was not going to last into the late innings, so something would have to give.
As it turned out, The Big Red caught three different breaks in three consecutive innings involving their lead-off batter, and scored a run in each of those frames. In the third, Ethan Mulcahy caught the Ospreys by surprise with a lead-off bunt. He eventually came around to score the Big Red's first run.
In the fourth, Daniel Craig led off with a solid double to center field, which led to RHS' second run. Then in the fifth, Conley hit Mason Miller with one of his final pitches, and the Gladiators were finally able to squeeze across what turned out to be the winning run on a hit to center by Berkstresser.
Conley's pitch count had reached an astonishing 90 by the end of the third inning. However the Osprey coaching staff rolled the dice and kept him in the game until he reached the maximum allowed 110, which came very early in the fifth shortly after he plunked Miller. His replacement, junior Brody Edwards, did a credible job as the Gladiators had a fair amount of trouble with him as well.
Speaking of Brodys that impacted the game, the Gladiators elected to replace Berk on the mound with senior Brody Phillips after the second inning. He gave up a few hits but in the stat that mattered the most, he kept the visitors off the scoreboard. However I believe his personal pitch count reached into the 90s for his five innings, which will likely keep him off the mound Thursday.
With RHS clinging to that 3-2 lead, we had one final anxious moment in the top half of the seventh. SML had a batter called out at first. However they challenged the play and it was overturned after input from the home plate umpire, allowing that runner (Conley in fact who was now playing shortstop) to stay on first. Then much to the delight of the Big Red fans, the game ended on a dramatic 5-4-3 double play. (I think I have those numbers right.)
In a way, that ending was almost fitting because by my count the Big Red failed on at least three and maybe four almost identical plays at earlier stages. In each case, they were able to get the important out at second but came up just short on the relay to first. But when they needed it the most, first baseman Holden Fitzgerald dug out the throw in plenty of time to end the game and send RHS to the regional final, and more importantly into next week's state tournament.
Congrats to the Gladiators for gutting out such a tough win. But hats off also to SML. I believe I am correct that this was their first year competing against VHSL teams. I am not sure what other sports that may entail but they showed us tonight that they will be more than capable on the diamond in the years to come. Maybe that confidence level will translate into success in other sports as well. Just a couple of months from now, the two football teams will meet again, as the Gladiators will make their first-ever trip to Moneta,
In other action tonight, the Lady Gladiators fell behind 2-0 on the road to William Campbell but came up just one run short on the comeback as WC held on to win 2-1. That ends RHS' season, but the Lady Generals will now advance to the 1-B title game. There is a good chance that will mean a trip to top-seeded Buffalo Gap for them.