Neither Monticello’s Sean Byrnes nor Western Albemarle’s Jack Maynard seemed interested in surrendering even an inch Thursday night.
Two of the Jefferson District’s top hurlers went toe-to-toe on the mound in a true pitcher’s duel with Maynard and the Warriors scratching out a 1-0 victory with just a single hit against Byrnes.
Maynard struck out 12 Monticello batters and surrendered just three scattered hits and one walk. It was his fourth complete game victory of the season. Most importantly, he came up with key strikeouts to end innings with runners on throughout the night.
Byrnes put together a similarly sterling performance, striking out 10 and surrendering just the single hit.
The game was deadlocked at 0-0 in the top of the sixth when Josh Casteen drew a walk and then stole second. Sam Hearn then also drew a walk, but Monticello got a big lift from a fielder’s choice where Casteen was forced out at third. That’s when Dylan Weiss hit a burner toward first base and got a little help from a well-timed take off by Mastakas that made an already tough play that much harder. The hard-hit ball slipped into the outfield, allowing Hearn to score from second.
From there, Maynard managed to close out the game for the Warriors.
The Warriors (8-0, 4-0 in the JD) play at Charlottesville Tuesday at 6 p.m.
