Stories

Louisa holds off Fluvanna

By John Shifflett / ScrimmagePlay.com contributor

There doesn’t seem to be much that fazes the Louisa County High baseball team.

They Lions had to wait an extra day to play the Jefferson District tournament title game because of bad weather. No problem.

They played the game on the road against opponent Fluvanna County instead of at a neutral site at Charlottesville High because of the delay. No need to worry.

Then Louisa fell behind by three runs and had to find a way to rally.

Just another day at the office.

The Lions absorbed a four-run barrage from Fluvanna in the fourth inning and then countered with a big inning of its own in a 6-4 victory on Saturday.

Trailing 1-0, the Flucos’ bats came to life in the fourth. Fluvanna registered five hits, including RBI singles from Sam Turner and Ryan Foster, and scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead and put Louisa on its heels. Not that the Lions were worried.

“After their big inning, we talked about the adjustments that needed to be made,” said Louisa coach Kevin Fisher, the Jefferson District coach of the year. “And they made them.”

Undaunted, the Lions responded immediately in the bottom of the fourth inning. First baseman Jim Hensley started the Louisa rally by driving in Brandon Perrin with an RBI single. Two batters later, Peter Culver tied the game for the Lions with a 2-RBI single.

The Lions weren’t done. Jefferson District player of the year Gunnar Carroll followed Culver’s at-bat with a walk to load the bases. Then Dylan Wratchford gave the Lions a 6-4 lead with a two-RBI single.

“We opened the floodgates for them,” Fluvanna coach Mike Sheridan said.

Fluvanna looked poised to respond, loading the bases in the top of the fifth inning with two outs. But Louisa pitcher Johnny Lowery dug deep, striking out Fluvanna’s Zach Crawford looking to get out of the jam and thwart the Fluco threat.

“They answered us and we didn’t answer them,” Sheridan said. “We left way too many people on base.”

The Flucos never threatened again as Louisa reliever Chase Brookman pitched two innings of shutout ball to secure the win.

Winning tight games is nothing new to Louisa (17-6). Ten of the Lions’ victories have been by three runs or less.

“It’s weird how calm they are during tight games,” said Fisher of his team. “They keep an even keel.”

Both teams kick off Region II play on Monday. Fluvanna travels to Brentsville while Louisa plays host to Kettle Run.

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