It’s been a point for Appomattox and it worked in its favor. Goochland tried to catch the Raiders itching for the next base. It did not work out. Appomattox put the ball in play and ran hard to open up the game and made the most of it to knock off the Bulldogs, 4-2, in the Region B semifinals.
“We have a couple rules – play smart, and we don’t always do that, but the other is play hard,” said Raiders coach Joe Caruso. “Early in the year I saw that we were really aggressive on the bases. I knew we’d make some mistakes, but I said that I didn’t care, this is who we are. So we do that and put the pressure on the defense. Today we did that and made them throw it around a little bit.”
A walk in the second lead to Raiders first run. A single from Trey Hamlett lead to a throwing error that allowed Kendall Thomas to score. Two innings later, Thomas reached base on an error, and after a stolen base, Chandler Harvery came through with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
The Raiders tacked on two more runs in the fifth when Dallas Turner started by reaching base on an error. A walk followed by a fielder’s choice from Trey Hamlett who then took second and third on a wild pitch and then a passed ball made it 3-0. A fielder’s choice from Grant Paulette and an obstruction call allowed Appomattox go up 4-0. The mistakes cut short a solid start from left Austin Goyne who came off in the fifth.
“Those errors didn’t just give them the runs, they ran up Austin’s pitch count,” said Bulldogs coach Wes Farkas. “I thought he kept his composure considering how much we gave away.”
The miscues ended there for Goochland, five errors and five hits gave the Raiders their lead. The Bulldogs responded in the fifth on a leadoff single from Cody Johnson. After a balk and an error produced by Chase Brookman, Goochland cut it to three runs.
In the sixth Forrest Witt lead off with a single. Trace Nixon then reached base on an error and Josh Driver brought in Witt on an RBI ground out. But that was it for Goochland’s offense.
“Credit to our guys, they’ve battled all year and the seniors really took leadership there at the end,” Farkas said.
Raiders starter Dylan Carsuro went the distance and was in control from start to finish. The Longwood bound senior came up with 12 strike outs and gave up five hits.
“He was hurt half the season, but when you get to these tournaments, you face an ace and a number two, we don’t have a number two,” Caruso said. “This is a Division 1 pitcher and he found his curveball.”
The loss ends Goochland’s season.
“This is something we haven’t done in a while, not just going to regionals, but winning there,” Farkas said. “So that was big, winning the district, the district tournament and advancing a round in regionals. We lost to a really good team here, but we also gave them a lot, so it’s tough.”
Appomattox earns a Group A bid and will play at William Monroe on Friday for the Region B championship and the right to a home game in the state tournament.
