Heritage, Potomac Falls To Play For Tourney Title
Heritage Keeps Season Alive with 9 inning thriller
(Sterling, VA) The Heritage Pride lived to play another day on Tuesday with a dramatic 6-5 victory over the regular season Dulles District champion Broad Run Spartans. Heritage took advantage of great pitching from starter John Rogerson and relievers Jacob Martinez and Andrew Crane to pull out the win.
The game was a roller coaster ride for both teams as the score changed several times before the dramatic finish in the bottom of the ninth inning. With Broad Run trailing by 3 runs heading into the bottom of the ninth, Heritage looked in control and ready to advance to the Dulles District finals on Thursday. However, Broad Run made it a little too close for comfort as Stephen Hershey got things started with a one out double off the center field fence. Hershey and teammate Chris Jessop would later score to bring the game within one run at 6-5. With two outs and Spartan Vince Johnson on third base, Heritage pitcher Andrew Crane threw a pitch in the dirt that got away from catcher Joe Laura. Johnson took off for home and Laura raced to get the ball for a play at the plate.
With the ball perfectly thrown to pitcher Andrew Crane, Johnson was called out at home and Heritage stormed the field with excitement as they realized their season was going to continue at least for one more contest.
Heritage shortstop Brenton Peters played tremendous defense for the Pride and contributed a few hits in the contest that came at crucial times. In the top of the 9th inning, it was third baseman Austin Weaver who was the Pride's hero as he drove in the go-ahead runs with a bases loaded single to right field. With their stellar play at the plate and in the field, Peters and Weaver were named the game's Chick-fil-A Players of the Game.
With the win, Heritage advances to play Potomac Falls on Thursday night at 7pm for a regional playoff berth and the Dulles District Tournament Championship. Listen live to the action and first pitch starting at 7pm right here online at GamedayMagazine.com.
Panthers Get All They Can Handle From Eagles in 11-10 Win
(Sterling, VA) In the nightcap of our Gameday Radio double header, the Potomac Falls Panthers entered the Dulles District tournament semifinals as arguably the hottest team in the area. They had won 7 of their last 8 district games and their lineup has been on fire at the plate. Freedom on the other hand was not expected to be in this semifinal game, but someone forgot to tell them. Led by a group of sophomores and juniors, the Eagles stormed into the semifinals having knocked off the Park View Patriots.
Freedom started Ali Moosvi on the mound and Potomac Falls gave the ball to Mike Detaranto. Moosvi and Detaranto both pitched well in the first few innings and kept things scoreless heading into the 4th. Freedom struck first putting up 2 runs in the top of the 4th inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Panthers answered with 8 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning behind the hitting of shortstop Greg Woodlief (3 hits in the game), and pitcher Mike Detaranto. Thinking this game was headed toward a blowout was a big mistake for anyone in attendance as Freedom climbed back into the game and eventually took a 10-8 lead in the 6th inning. Eagle shortstop Kyle Groome's bases clearing hit to the right centerfield gap was the catalyst for Freedom's comeback.
Potomac Falls wasn't done though, as they scratched their way back to tie the game in the bottom of the 6th inning at 10-10. After pitcher Jake Kline shut down the Eagle hitters in the top of the 7th, the Panthers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th for Pat Nightengale. Nightengale stepped to the plate and drilled a single past Freedom's Kyle Howard at third to bring in the winning run and put Potomac Falls into the finals on Thursday night.
Panther sophomore Greg Woodlief was named the Chick-fil-A Player of the Game along with Freedom's Kyle Groome. Both players had several big hits in the contest and played outstanding in the field.
Potomac Falls will face Heritage on Thursday for a regional playoff berth and the Dulles District Tournament Championship. Listen live to the first pitch at 7pm right here at GamedayMagazine.com.
