Thanks to solid relief efforts from Chase Brookman and Josh Seay for Fluvanna Post 2003, things got quiet for a while for Albemarle Post 74 in the first meeting between the two on Tuesday night. But the start was solid for the home team and with a healthy lead going into the seventh though, Albemarle got warm again and put together a 2-run rally to win via run rule 11-1.
“The key to this team is on the mound,” said Albemarle coach Mike Maynard. “Post 74 has always been able to hit with anyone all the time. The key is on the mound.”
Jordan Gentry threw six innings to pick up the win on the mound for Post 74. The William Monroe product struck out seven batters and gave up only one run on the night and four hits. Between his six innings Tuesday and the last week of high school baseball, Gentry has thrown 14 innings with only one run allowed, with his velocity seemingly getting better each time, but his pitch count mounted early.
“Jordan’s throwing harder and that’s why his command was a bit off early but he really settled in after the third and I’m going to give him some time off so he get some rest,” Maynard said. “Sean, we want him to pitch on Friday and he’s been off (since Covenant last played) so we gave him an inning there to get him used to the mound.”
State champion and VISAA Division 2 player of the year Rutherford relieved Gentry in the seventh and retired the side with a pair of strike outs.
Offensively, Albemarle got off to a big start with an 2-run double from St. Anne’s-Belfield’s Sheldon Shifflett, an RBI from Rutherford who reached base on an error, an RBI ground out from former Monroe standout Danny Morris and another RBI groundout from rising Greene Dragons sophomore Austin Batten.
In the second, Gentry reached base on a single for a second straight inning and was driven in once again by Shifflett, this time on a triple.
“I’m doing fine so far I guess,” Shifflett said. “First pitch fastball, that’s always what I look for. I hit the ball hard that’s all you can say really.”
Fluvanna got on the board in the top of the third on a bases loaded situation. Jake Seay reached base on an error that allowed Sam Turner to score.
“We sprayed it around a bit but we shouldn’t strike out as much as we did tonight,” said Fluvanna coach Rodney Carter.
Ryan Morris highlighted Albemarle’s third inning. Morris, who hit in the clean up spot for Monroe during the high school season, pounded a pitch over the left field fence after a Morris double and Thomas Stallings walk for a 3-run blast to make it 9-1.
“I saw it inside and just turned on it,” Morris said. “I was expecting something good being 3-1 so I expected fastball. Coach told me we had a stacked lineup and that he was going to move me down right now and take some pressure off me. So I come out now just trying to have some fun and get some hits.”
From that point forward it was about the pitchers until the bottom of the seventh with Goochland’s Brookman taking over in the fourth and Josh Seay for the next three innings.
“We’ve got some pitching but right now, not anyone we can throw seven innings this early,” Carter said. “We hung in a lot better than I thought coming in.”With two outs in the seventh, Albemarle was able to finish the game early thanks to a 2-out rally. Madison County’s Colin Tucker got it started with a double to right field. After a walk Batten hit an RBI double. Finally Charlottesville’s Eli Haden ended the game by reaching base on a chopper up the middle that brought Batten home.
Due to last minute schedule changes, Fluvanna awaits to find out it’s next opponent.
Albemarle will host Orange Post 156 on Thursday at 7 p.m.
