Tigers move on to final
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By JUSTIN CREECH
For the News & Messenger
Published: May 21, 2008
For the News & Messenger
The Brentsville Tigers knew it was going to take more than three runs to beat them in Wednesday night’s Northwestern District Tournament semifinal. As it turned out, the Sherando Warriors didn’t get the message.
After watching the Warriors hit two home runs in the top of the second inning and then follow them with two lively dugout celebrations, the Tigers put 10 runs on the board and ad-vanced to the championship game with an easy 10-3 win.
“The whole team knows we are going to score more than three runs,” said sophomore Justin Weaver. “So we just went out and hit the ball.”
Weaver was the catalyst for the Tigers’ offense as he went 3 for 3 with 4 RBI and a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth that sealed the Brentsville victory.
“I thought it was a dagger when I hit it,” said Weaver of the grand slam. “It felt good.”
Brentsville coach Brian Knight said the Warriors big second inning didn’t impact his team’s confidence.
“We knew we weren’t going to be shut out,” said Knight. “We just needed to settle down and worry about getting one run and one hit at a time.”
The Tigers (19-2) also received a solid outing from starting pitcher Rich Lindsay. Lind-say went six innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out five.
“I just left a few pitches up,” said Lindsay, who allowed only one hit over the final four innings that he pitched. “But I got my control back and the team picked me up after that which is all I can ask for.”
Sherando senior outfielder Chris Tripp was quoted in Tuesday’s Winchester Star as saying, “We’ve been right there with Brentsville each game. I really think we gave them both games. I expect to beat them.”
Knight, however, said Tripp’s quote did not give his team any added motivation.
“We saw the quote, but it was not a driving force for us,” said Knight.
After Hayden Gilmer walked to lead off the bottom of the second, Weaver doubled to the left field gap. After an error allowed Justin Frazier to reach first base, Brian McBride singled to center to score Weaver and cut the Sherando lead to 3-2. James Kerns followed that with a walk and Andrew Johnson grounded to second to score Frazier and tie the game.
Tyler LeGrand grounded out to second to score McBride and give Brentsville a 4-3 lead.
Weaver delivered the nail in the coffin two innings later. With the bases loaded and two outs, Weaver took a Tyler Simmers fastball to right field that ended any hope Sherando had of a late inning comeback.
Jonathan Desilets retired three of the four batters he faced in the top of the seventh to close out the Warriors (12-10) and punch Brentsville’s ticket to the district final.
“We had goals set at the beginning of the year,” said Knight. “We wanted to win the district and the district tournament, so we are pleased right now.”
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