By Nolan Potts
Clover Hill scored four runs in the fourth inning and then added another in the fifth and two in the sixth as they pulled away from Bridgewater and took Game 2 of the RCBL Finals by a final score of 9-4 and now have a 2-0 lead in the series.

Bridgewater scored first when they put up two runs in the second inning courtesy of a Malachi Simmons RBI groundout that drove in Noah Cornwell, and Ryan Williams reaching on an error that brought in Grey Sherfey.

The Bucks would respond in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Brooks Bowman that scored Lucas Bauer, and an RBI groundout from Issac Sumpter that scored Kevin Navedo.

Sherfey would hit an RBI single in the top of the third to drive in Chris Huffman and put Bridgewater ahead, 3-2.

In the fourth, Josh Eberly hit an RBI double to tie the game, and then the Bucks would take the lead for good later that inning on a Bryce Suters RBI single, followed by RBI singles from Luke Shiflett and Bauer.

Huffman drove in a run in the fifth to make the score 6-4 in favor of Clover Hill, but in the bottom of the fifth, Eberly would hit another RBI double to extend the lead back to three.

Clover Hill went with three different pitchers to start the game going two innings each. Cole Freeman got the start before turning it over to Clay Guyer in the third (who was credited with the win), who then turned it over to Tyler Hill in the fifth. Grant Thomas pitched the final three innings to pick up the save.

At the plate, every Clover Hill starter had at least one hit, and the team got three hits from Suters, as well as two hits each from Eberly, John Siciliano, and Navedo.

For Bridgewater, All-RCBL team pitcher Nick Griffin took the loss on the mound, with Eric Yankey and Pat Burke also getting work out of the bullpen. Offensively, the Reds had seven hits as a team and got two hits each from Huffman, Sherfey, and Corbin Lucas.

Game 3 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday night at Ray Heatwole Field at 7:00 PM.

By Nolan Potts
Clover Hill stole home field advantage in the RCBL Finals and held off Bridgewater in the final two innings of Game 1 and won, 4-2.

The Bucks opened the scoring in the top of the second when an Alex Knicely groundout scored Luke Shiflett, and an error on the play enabled Lucas Bauer to score and make the score 2-0. The Bucks would extend the lead to 3-0 with a run in the sixth inning on a Bryce Suters RBI single that drove home Drew Easter.

Bridgewater would finally get on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Mason Hamilton reached on an error that scored Grey Sherfey, and then again in the eighth inning on a bases-loaded walk to Cam Herron. The Reds left the bases loaded in the eighth and trailed 3-2 heading into the ninth.

Derek Shifflett took over for Huffman in the eighth for the Reds and threw a scoreless inning, but the Bucks were able to add one in the top of the ninth on an RBI double off the bat of Drew Easter that drove in Kevin Navedo to make it 4-2.

But the Reds did not go down without a fight. Tyler Conley, who started Game 4 of the semifinals for the Bucks, came in to try to pick up the save. Brett Tharp led off with a walk. Mason Hamilton grounded into a fielder’s choice for out number one. The next batter (Huffman) singled, but Conley got a groundout and a strikeout to strand the tying run at second base.

Both starting pitchers (Chris Huffman for Bridgewater, and Reid Long for Clover Hill) were strong in this game. Huffman went seven innings, allowing five hits, three runs (two earned) while striking out eight. Long went 6.2 innings and allowed eight hits, one run (zero earned) and struck out six.

For Bridgewater, Huffman had three hits while Corbin Lucas, Sherfey, and Herron each had two hits.

Clover Hill was led offensively by Luke Shiflett’s two hits, while six other players had one hit.

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night at Buck Bowman Park at 7:45 PM.

                         R      H      E
Clover Hill       4      8      2
Bridgewater    2     10     2
Win: Reid Long
Loss: Chris Huffman
Save: Tyler Conley

By Nolan Potts
Trailing 2-0 entering the sixth inning in Game 4 of the semifinals, Clover Hill put up seven runs and pulled away to win Game 4 over Massanutten by a final score of 8-4 and win the series, 2-1.

The Bucks advance to the RCBL Finals and will take on Bridgewater beginning Sunday night.

Massanutten got on the board first in this one on a two-out infield single by Colin Troilo that scored Harrison Madagan, and then an errant throw on the play allowed courtesy runner Brady Hoover to score, as well.

Cole Orr threw extremely well for the Mountaineers, throwing five scoreless innings to start the game before running into some trouble in the sixth. He left the game after 5.1 innings and the game tied at 2-2 with two runners on, but Clover Hill drove in those two runs and added three more to make it 7-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

In that inning, Kevin Navedo, Alex Knicely, and Kevin Kirk each had an RBI single, while pinch hitter Drew Easter drew a bases-loaded walk, and Luke Shiflett had a two RBI single. The Bucks also scored two runs on wild pitches.

Massanutten would respond in the bottom of the sixth when they scored on a passed ball, and then Nate Brookshire hit an RBI single to drive in Harrison Madagan.

Navedo led off the seventh with a double for the Bucks and would score on a 6-4-3 double play two batters later to make it 8-4.

Tyler Conley picked up the win for Clover Hill, working his way into the sixth inning before turning it over to Grant Thomas who went the rest of the way allowing just two hits, no runs, and striking out four to pick up the save.

At the plate, Navedo had three hits, while Shiflett and Josh Eberly each had two hits.

For the Mountaineers, Harrison Madagan went 2-3 and five others each had one hit.

Massanutten finishes their inaugural season in the RCBL with a record of 16-15 after starting the season 3-9.

Clover Hill is now 19-12 overall and travel to Bridgewater (24-6) for Game 1 of the Finals on Sunday night at 6:30 PM.

 

By Nolan Potts
Harrison Madagan had five hits and scored four runs and Kaplan Ambrose hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs as Massanutten scored six runs in the third inning and 13 runs in the sixth to force a Game 4 with a 20-5 win over Clover Hill at Buck Bowman Park on Thursday night.

Clover Hill jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. After Josh Eberly walked and John Siciliano reached on a fielder’s choice that Eberly was safe on at second base, Bryce Suters hit his third home run of the series to right-center field to put the Bucks on top.

In the top of the third, Massanutten’s bats would start to wake up. Harrison Madagan singled to score Kaden Spaid and make the score 3-1. Two batters later, Connor Houser singled to right and scored Nick Arnold. Nate Brookshire would then single to left to score Madagan and courtesy runner Andrew O’Brien and give the Mountaineers the lead. After Colin Troilo was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Ambrose singled to center to score Houser and Brookshire and make the score 6-3.

The Mountaineers would make it 7-3 in the fourth inning after Houser singled and drove in Madagan.

Clover Hill would load the bases in the fifth and score two runs after a Kevin Kirk single and a Josh Eberly hit by pitch, but Massanutten reliever Andrew Baugher induced a 5-2-3 double play to get out of inning without any further damage.

The Mountaineers exploded for 13 runs in the top of the sixth inning. Nick Arnold led off the inning with a walk, followed by a Madagan single and two hit by pitches to Dawson Russell and Houser. Brookshire singled to bring in a run and make it 9-5, and then Ambrose hit a grand slam over the right field wall to break it open and make it 13-5. From there, Massanutten added seven more runs with the RBIs coming from Arnold, Madagan (2), Russell, Ambrose, and House (2).

Massanutten starter Brady Hoover bounced back from the three-run first inning and gave the team 4.1 innings pitched before turning it over to Baugher, who then went the next 1.2 innings allowing no earned runs, one hit, and striking out two. Garett McAlexander pitched a 1-2-3 seven inning, striking out two to finish the ballgame.

On the day for the Mountaineers, Madagan went 5-6 with three RBI and four runs scored, Brookshire went 3-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, and Ambrose went 2-4 with seven RBI. Houser had two hits and three RBI, while House had two hits and two RBI. Arnold had two runs, scored three runs, and walked three times.

For the Bucks, Suters had the home run and three RBI, Siciliano had two hits, while Eberly and Kirk each had a hit and an RBI.

Game 4 is Friday night at Spotswood High School at 7:00 PM. The Mountaineers must win to force a Game 5. A Clover Hill win would put the Bucks in the RCBL Finals against Bridgewater.