A 7-6 win against Norfolk Academy at home on Wednesday propelled Walsingham Academy to its first Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools tournament championship game appearance.
The win came in dramatic fashion, as the Trojans scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the come-from-behind victory.
Walsingham scored its first run in the bottom of the third inning when Tredell Blow scored on a passed ball that put the Trojans up 1-0.
A five-run fifth inning for Norfolk Academy that featured two home runs put the Trojans in a steep 5-1 hole late in the contest.
James West responded for Walsingham in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run of his own to bring the Trojans within three runs.
West came up big again in the bottom of the seventh inning with an RBI single that was followed by a two-run single by Christian Carter.
With the game tied at 5-5, the two teams headed into extra innings.
Norfolk Academy went ahead 6-5 in the top of the ninth thanks to an RBI single.
In the pivotal bottom of the ninth, the Trojans logged back-to-back hits, the second of which was an RBI single that tied the game at 6-6.
On the next at-bat, Jason Covaney reached base thanks to a throwing error by Norfolk Academy that allowed the game-winning run to score from third.
Walsingham Academy (15-7) will play Greenbrier Christian at Norfolk State in the TCIS finals on Friday.
Norfolk Academy: 000;050;001 — 6 13 3
Walsingham Academy: 001;010;302 — 7 13 1
WP: Tredell Blow
LP: Heaton
Norfolk Academy: Wagnon (2-3, 2 RBIs), Whitmire (2-2, 2 RBIs)
Walsingham Academy: James West (3-5, HR, 2 RBIs), Christian Carter (3-5, 3 RBIs)
Grafton Down Denbigh Behind RBIs From Bailey, Sanders
Michael Bailey and Adam Sanders each drove in a pair of runs as Grafton downed Denbigh 4-2 at home on Wednesday.
The Clippers posted two runs in the bottom of the third inning, taking an early 2-0 lead over Denbigh.
Denbigh responded with runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, but Grafton tacked on runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to secure the victory.
Clippers pitcher Zach Wojonowski threw six solid innings, allowing one earned run on three hits.
Grafton (4-10) will face a tough road test against York on Friday.
Denbigh: 000;110;0 — 2 4 2
Grafton: 002;011;x — 4 12 3
WP: Zach Wojonowski
LP: Austin Edmonds
Denbigh: Rob Martinez (RBI), Ryan Groome (1-3, RBI)
Grafton: Michael Bailey (2-4, 2 RBIs), Adam Sanders (1-2, 2 RBIs)
Tabb Offense Dominates Against Bruton
Tabb’s offense put on a dominant performance during a 15-2 road win against Bruton on Wednesday.
Aided by five errors from Bruton, the Tigers were able to put up a new season-high for runs scored in a game. Their previous high was 11 runs against Lakeland.
Nick Hunter and Jake Berrena opened the scoring in the top of the first inning for Tabb with back-to-back RBI hits.
Gray Goodrich and DJ Williams kept the momentum going with an RBI single and a run scored on a passed ball, respectively.
Bruton responded with a run in the bottom of the first inning as Zach Calloway scored on a passed ball from third base.
In the top of the third inning, Tabb scored runs on four consecutive plate appearances to take an 8-1 lead over the Panthers.
While Bruton added a run in the bottom of the third, the Tigers scored seven runs over the fourth and fifth innings. The 15-2 lead allowed the Tigers to end the game early because of the Virginia High School League’s 10-run rule.
Tabb (7-6) will host Lafayette on Friday. Meanwhile, Bruton (3-11) will play its third game in as many days as the Panthers travel to take on New Kent on Thursday.
Tabb: 404;16 — 15 8 0
Bruton: 101;00 — 2 4 5
WP: Gray Goodrich
LP: Clee Yocum
Tabb: Evan Glass (2-3, 3 RBIs), DJ Williams (2-3, RBI)
Bruton: Zach Calloway (2-2, R), Darian Brooks (1-2)
Warhill Escapes Poquoson
An RBI single by Luke Gruendl in the fourth inning allowed Warhill to eke past Poquoson 3-2 on the road Wednesday.
The Lions opened the game with two runs in the top of the first inning, one coming off an RBI single by Trey Drummond.
Gruendl’s RBI single in the fourth inning proved to be the game-winning for the Lions, which held the Islanders to two runs thanks to a solid complete-game pitching performance from Adam Ball.
Warhill (4-13) will host New Kent on Friday.
A box score was not provided for this game.
Warhill 3, Poquoson 2
