Battlefield Rallies, Beats Valley 12-7 For Title
In one of the most exciting baseball games this post-season, with the lead changing hands several times in 7 innings, the Battlefield Bobcats outlasted the Loudoun Valley Vikings to win 12-7. With some timely hitting and great defensive plays, the Bobcats win their second District Championship in as many years and will now move on to regional play...
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Battlefield's Joey El-bisi played tremendous defensively on Thursday night behind the plate. He also contributed two hits and scored a run in the 12-7 win over Valley.
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Loudoun Valley's Daniel Fleming trots around the bases after sending a fastball sailing over the scoreboard in left. His blast gave Valley an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
HAYMARKET, VA - Arguably two of the hottest teams in the Northwest Region squared off in a win or go home championship tilt at Battlefield High School Thursday night. Loudoun Valley had won 12 straight games after starting the season 3-7 for head coach Wayne Todd, and Battlefield entered the game 12-10, but having just knocked off the top seed Osbourn Park in the semifinals.
The Vikings put Carl Larsen on the hill with the hopes that his golden right arm could throw them to the regional playoffs, and for a couple of innings, things look pretty good for Valley.
Loudoun Valley got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when Daniel Fleming hit a towering blast to left field with runners on first and second. Fleming's homer cleared the scoreboard to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
Tyler Huffman then singled to left, but was picked off first by Bobcat catcher Joey El-bisi for the second out of the inning.
Iain Mottice walked to give Valley another base runner, and then Wes Walker's ground ball to 3rd was tossed in the dirt. Walker reached safely, and Mottice advanced to 3rd base on the error. Alex Owens then singled to center field to drive in Mottice and give Valley a 4-0 lead
Larsen had a four run lead and he cruised in the top of the 3rd inning, retiring the side quickly. But in the top of the 4th, the talented right-hander ran into trouble, and Battlefield's bats started to come alive.
El-bisi started the inning off with a single, and then Zach Harris reached on a fielder's choice. On Harris' ground ball, pinch runner Danny Drzal was thrown out by Fleming at third for the first out of the inning.
John Williams then doubled on the next at bat to left, and Harris advanced to third. Chase Garris was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, and the Bobcats then scored when Chris Wendle reached on an error in left field. With the bases still loaded, Valley led 4-1.
Turner Meeks then doubled to right, and two base runners scored for Battlefield to cut the lead to 4-3. With Meeks and Wendle on 2nd and 3rd respectively, Valley head coach Wayne Todd pulled Larsen for Daniel Burke.
Burke's first batter faced was Bobcat Chris Moylan, who grounded to first baseman Beattie Southerland. Moylan's grounder scored Wendle to tie the game at 4-4.
Burke eventually got out of the inning, and in the bottom of the 4th, Valley took the lead again when Iain Mottice walked and later scored on Wes Walker's double to the left.
Alex Owens then singled to right field, but pinch runner Mac Kholsa was thrown out at the plate on the play. On the throw home, Owens advanced to second base. He later stole 3rd base, and the throw from Bobcat catcher Joey El-bisi sailed into left, which allowed Owens to score to give Valley a 6-4 lead.
In the top of the 5th inning, Bobcat Bobby Seagears led off with a walk, and then advanced to second base on a balk, the second of the game for Valley.
El-bisi then singled again to right field to plate Seagears from second to make the score 6-5 in Valley's favor. Zach Harris then came to the plate and doubled to move pinch runner Danny Drzal to third.
Wayne Todd then replaced Burke with Adam Reed with runners on 2nd and 3rd. After falling behind 3-0 to his first hitter John Williams, Reed worked his way back to strike out Battlefield's clean-up hitter. Chase Garris then grounded to Southerland at first, and Southerland threw home to get the lead runner. However, his throw was too late and the Bobcats tied the score 6-6.
Battlefield's Chris Wendle walked to load the bases again for the Bobcats, but Reed didn't waiver. He struck out Turner Meeks for the second out, and then got Chris Moylan to ground out to second, or so he thought.
Iain Mottice's throw sailed wide of Southerland at first, and two more runs scored for Battlefield to make the score 8-6. Reed then got freshman Derek Evans to strike out to end the inning, but Valley would never regain the lead.
In the top of the 6th inning, Battlefield added two more when Zach Harris homered to right field. Harris' blast ignited the Bobcat crowd, and gave his team a 10-6 lead. John Williams would later score on Chris Wendle's double that gave the Bobcats an 11-6 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Valley scored once in the bottom of the 6th, but Battlefield got that run back when Chris Moylan beat a throw to the plate in the top of the 7th inning to make the score 12-7.
Pitcher John-Austin Shepard proceeded to shut down the Vikings in the bottom half of the last inning to give the Bobcats their second straight Cedar Run Tournament Championship.
With the win, Battlefield advanced to the Northwest Region playoffs on Monday night, and will play at Potomac in the first round.
Loudoun Valley's season came to an end with the 12-7 defeat to the Bobcats, but the Vikings had a tremendous run. Many didn't believe Valley had a chance to even play for a playoff spot when they lost 7 of their first 10 games, but Todd rallied his troops and they responded with an impressive winning streak. After the game, Todd reflected on the tough season ending loss.
"We just didn't come to play our game tonight," Todd said. "We made too many mistakes to win the game."
The future looks bright for Valley with 11 players with experience returning next spring.
For Battlefield, head coach Matt Caudle said the win was especially sweet because it was in front of the home crowd, and he was impressed with how is kids fought back after falling behind early in the game.
"We have a lot of young kids, and they just gutted it out," Caudle said. "Pitchers were on fumes, but they just gutted it out. We had some tough times this year but they came through in the end."
As for the first round regional game schedule for Monday against Potomac, Caudle said he expects a really tough game.
"Tyler Covington is always tough, and we have a lot of work to do to get ready for Monday night. We'll enjoy tonight and come out tomorrow and get back to work."
BEST BUY PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Presented By: Best Buy
Zach Harris - Battlefield Freshman
Harris was huge in Thursday's win over Loudoun Valley. His 2 run blast in the 6th inning helped the Bobcats pull away from the Vikings and eventually snag the win. The Cedar Run District is in for some long years with this talented youngster on the diamond.
Joey El-bisi - Battlefield Senior Catcher
El-bisi was fantastic behind the plate defensively, and just as good at the plate. He finished the night 2 for 3 with two singles and a walk. He also picked off a runner at first base and stopped nearly ever pitch thrown in the dirt by his pitching staff.
Daniel Fleming - Valley Junior Shortstop
Fleming had the big hit of the game for the Vikings in the 2nd inning. His 3 run homer gave the Vikings a 3-0 lead, and ignited the Valley fans in attendance. Fleming sent a fastball over the scoreboard in left field.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Presented By: AOC Solutions
Battlefield High School
1. Bobby Seagears - 1 for 4, 2K, BB, SB, Run
2. Joey Elibisi - 1 for 3, 2 BB, K, 2 Runs
3. Zach Harris - 2 for 5, 2K, 2B, HR, 3RBI, 3 runs
4. John Williams - 1-3, 2B, 2K, BB, 2 runs
5. Brandon McMahon - 0 for 1, K
Chase Garrett - 1 for 2, HBP, 2 runs
6. Chris Wendle - 0 for 3, BB, run
7. Turner Meeks - 1 for 4, 2B, 2K
8. Chris Moylan - 1 for 4, run
9. John-Austin Shepard - 0 for 3, 2K, sac
Zach Harris (SP) - 1 2/3 IP, 4 runs (3 earned) 4 hits, 1K, 3BB, HB,
John Williams - 3 2/3 IP, 6 hits, 4 K, BB, 3 runs (2 earned)
John-Austin Shepard - 1 2/3 IP, 2K, BB
Loudoun Valley
1. Iain Mottice - 0 for 1, 3BB, 2 runs
2. Wes Walker - 2 for 4, 2B, 1 RBI
3. Alex Owens - 3 for 4, RBI, run
4. Matt Reed - 0 for 3
5. Andrew Creamer - 1 for 4, 2B, K, run
6. Beattie Southerland - 1 for 3, K, BB
7. TJ Daeschner - 0 for 3, HBP, 2K, run
8. Daniel Fleming - 1 for 4, HR, K, 3RBI, run
9. Tyler Huffman - 1 for 2, K
Peter Evans - 1 for 2, run
Carl Larsen (SP) - 3 1/3 IP, 4 runs (2 earned), 4K, BB, HBP, 2 hits
Daniel Burke - 2/3 IP, 3 runs (1 earned) K, BB, 2 hits
Adam Reed - 1 2/3 IP, 4 runs (3 earned), 2 hits, 4K, 2BB
TJ Daeschner - 1 1/3 IP, 1ER, 1 hit, 2K
