Shockers, Reds One Win From Finals

By Dean Barker
​The #3 RCBL Shockers overcame a 4-2 deficit and beat the #2 Clover Hill Bucks 7-5 in game three of the RCBL Semifinals. With the win, the Shockers are one win away from their third championship appearance in the last four years.
 
Matt House pitched the whole game, striking out six to get the win. Reid Long gave up six runs in six innings to take the loss.
 
Tied at 4-4 in the sixth, Luke Keister grounded into a force out at second, but reached first to allow two runs to score. Bucks first baseman Luke Shifflett was injured during the play, and was taken off the field on a golf cart. With a runner on first and one out in the ninth, Lucas Bauer’s liner was caught by House and thrown to first for the game-ending double play.
 
Game four will be tonight at 7:30 pm at Spotswood High School.
 
“We’ve got the upper hand in the series, so we’ve got to come out and play like our hair’s on fire, like it’s a must win (like we have the last two nights), and we’ll see where the chips fall at the end,” Shockers head coach Nolan Potts said.
 
The #1 Bridgewater Reds, two nights after being shut out at the #4 Grottoes Cardinals, returned the favor with a 3-0 win in game three of the RCBL semifinals. The Reds are one win away from their fifth finals appearance in the last seven years.
 
Joe Christopher pitched eight shutout innings with eight strikeouts to get the win. Derek Shifflett pitched a scoreless ninth to get the save. Despite an eight strikeout performance, Tucker Garrison gave up two runs in six innings to take the loss.
 
Bridgewater scored on an RBI single from Chris Huffman in the third, a sacrifice groundout from Jordan Yankey in the fourth, and a fielder’s choice grounder from Shifflett in the seventh. The Cardinals were held to five hits.
 
Game four will be tonight at Mountain View Park in Grottoes at 7:30 pm.
 
“Just start hot, put the barrel on the ball, and let things happen,” Shifflett said.

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