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Wards double down: Fluvanna baseball’s twins show up big in win over Orange

With just one Jefferson District loss to its name, the Fluvanna County baseball team set out on Tuesday to avenge thata defeat as they faced Orange County. With Kevin Ward spinning together an outstanding start and Andrew Ward providing the lion’s share of the offense, the Flucos were able to hold serve at home with a 4-0 win to create a little breathing room at the top of the standings.

 

“I am happy about this one,” said Fluvanna coach Joel Gray. “That’s a good team over there, fundamentally sound, quality pitching and hitting. We’ll take a shutout any day against a team like that.”

 

The Flucos got to work quickly with Mason Gross getting a walk and Ryan Groome ripping a single to leadoff the first. With two outs, Andrew Ward delivered a 2-run single to center to give Fluvanna the lead.

 

The Wards struck again in the third inning when Kevin Ward singled to set up a 2-run homerun from Andrew in the next at bat with, again with two outs. That made it a comfortable 4-0 lead heading to the fourth.

 

“We were just trying to stay on top of the ball and put it in play,” Andrew Ward said. “We’ve been having these spurts where some of us have been off so it was nice to see some guys break out of some slumps and square the ball up, score some runs against a good team.”

 

On the hill for Fluvanna, starter Kevin Ward was nothing short of efficient. Ward needed just 39 pitches to breeze through the first four innings striking out five batters along the way and retiring his first 12 batters in order. In the fifth, Orange was able break up Ward’s perfect game with a single from Brett Jennings. Ward responded by striking out two of the next three batters he faced to strand Jennings on second keep the shutout alive.

 

“We had some walks early that wound up hurting us, helping them build a lead and with the Wards pitching, you know really it doesn’t matter which one — you’re going to be in for a tough night because they’re both great pitchers,” said Orange coach Adam Utz. “I tell the kids everyday we’re seeing everyone’s ace right now so we’re seeing a lot of good pitching and that’s what we need because what matters is about playing well and being ready for the playoffs, we call it overtime. This is all about the building blocks, getting ready for the playoffs.”

 

Fluvanna loaded the bases in the fifth but reliever Caleb Fincham was able to work out of the jam and keep the margin at four.

 

Orange threatened in the top of the sixth with Devin Champion reaching on an error and then getting moved over to second. But Ward kept him there with a strikeout and flyout to center to get out unscathed. In his six innings pitched he gave up one hit, no runs, no walks and struck out eight batters.

 

“It felt good going out there and pitching — it’d been five days since I’d picked a ball up,” Ward said. “I just went out there, knew my team was going to have my back all ball game, so you go out there and pitch (well). I knew Orange could hit the ball but I had confidence in my defense the whole time.”

 

Andrew Ward came on in relief for Fluvanna. Keenan Williams led the seventh off with a single and took to third on a ground out and wild pitch. Ward wrapped up the win with a pair of strikeouts to close out the game.

 

Offensively for the Flucos, the Wards were each 2-for-3 at the plate with Andrew finishing with four RBI. For the Hornets, Williams and Jennings were each 1-for-3.

 

Fluvanna (12-2) travels to Charlottesville while Orange (11-4) hosts Albemarle with both games slated for Thursday.

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