Padula, Stier Help Cougars Down Vikings 6-3
FAIRFAX, VA - From a distance, Oakton and Loudoun Valley looked like the same team, both having over 20 wins on the season. But what separated the Cougars and Vikings on Memorial Day was hitting and defense. The Vikings committed 3 errors that led to 3 Cougar runs and in the end, Oakton pulled away to advance to the Northern Region semifinals on Wednesday.
Loudoun Valley, known for their defense and scrappy persona, played uncharacteristically sloppy in the field on Monday. Oakton's Brandon Padula took advantage of Valley's generosity after he tripled to right field. Padula would later score on a Mark Stier single and Oakton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning. The Cougars added 2 more runs in the 3rd and the score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the 5th inning.
Loudoun Valley finally settled down and began a rally when slugger Trevor Ikwild singled to drive in teammate Charlie Sperduto from second. The Vikings added two more runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to tie the game at 3-3 after Sperduto and Carson Parker both scored on hits.
The Cougars finally squashed the Viking rally and came to the plate in the top of the 7th looking to reclaim the lead. Oakton proceeded to load the bases and then Padula and Stier provided the knockout punches with hits that scored 3 runs to extend the lead to 6-3.
Valley attempted to make it close in the bottom of the 7th and scored one run before Oakton's Bart Reese shut them down to secure the win for the Cougars.
With the win Oakton advances to play rival Madison in the Northern Region Semifinals on Wednesday.
Chick-fil-A Players of the Game:
Oakton's Brandon Padula and Mark Stier contributed two hits a piece in the contest and helped Oakton triumph over Loudoun Valley to advance to the next round of the playoffs. Both were named the Chick-fil-A Players of the Game.
Game Notes:
Oakton pitcher Bret Williams scattered 7 hits to the Vikings in 6 innings of work. Williams kept the Vikings in check most of the day at the plate.
Oakton's record is now 21-3 and they have won the last 20 of 21 games they have played. Their last meeting against Madison was a 11 inning barnburner that ended in a close loss to the Warhawks. Wednesday's matchup with rival Madison will feature two top flight pitchers with the Warhawks starting Jason Farley and Oakton starting their ace Eric Cantrell. Farley pitched in the Madison win earlier in the season, but Cantrell didn't play. Cougar fans are hoping Cantrell can be the difference on Wednesday. The Cougars eliminated Madison last season on their way to the state title game.
