Panthers Snag Regional Berth in 6-4 Title Win....
STERLING, VA - With their season on the line, the Potomac Falls Panthers wanted nothing but a win on Thursday night to prove that they were the hottest team in the Dulles District. Standing in the way of their goal was a pesky Heritage Pride squad led by seven seniors, fresh off a win over regular season champion Broad Run. Potomac Falls had closed out the regular season winning 8 of the last 9 district games and punishing the Pride in their last meeting in April, so the stage was set for a championship battle.
Heritage struck first when Joey Donofrio singled in Grant Groves from second base and the Pride took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. Potomac Falls answered by scoring 1 in the bottom of the 1st inning to even the contest. Donofrio later smashed a Jake Kline fastball over the left centerfield fence for a homefun, and both teams exchanged leads for the first 5 innings. Potomac Falls first baseman Aaron Sweger helped extend the Panther lead late in the game with a towering homerun to centerfield. Sweger's blast was an impressive showcase of power, and according to Panther head coach Joe Terango, it couldn't have come at a better time.
"Aaron has been a clutch hitter for us all year long and when I saw that ball come of the bat, I knew he had hit it hard," Terango said.
With a lead in hand in the top of the 7th inning, Potomac Falls ace Jake Kline took control. With Heritage facing their final 3 outs, Kline buckled down and secured a complete game championship victory for the Panthers. Kline's performance was impressive to say the least. He pitched last Friday and threw 113 pitches in a win, then came in on Tuesday in relief against Freedom and threw another 16 pitches. When it was all said and done, Kline finished with a complete game and another 103 pitches on the chart. 232 pitches later, Kline and the Panthers finished their assault on the Dulles District, and extend their season to the regional playoffs Monday, traveling to Louisa High School.
"Jake has been a bulldog all year long, the conditioning he did in the offseason really paid off for him tonight," Terango said.
Pitching coach Dan Gitzen was also impressed with Kline's gutty performance.
"He's done this all year for our ballclub. It's hard to ask a young man to throw 232 pitches in less than a week, but Jake was up for the task, and he really threw a great game tonight," Gitzen said.
With the win, Potomac Falls claims the Dulles District Tournament Title, and will play Monday in the Regional Playoffs.
Listen to the replay of the Dulles District Tournament Championship game between Potomac Falls and Heritage.
