All “A”

Williamsburg’s stay in the state All “A” Classic was short-lived as the Yellow Jackets ran into the state’s fifth-ranked Lexington Christian Eagles. The Eagles pounded out 14 hits enroute to a 10-0 win over the Yellow Jackets at Applebee’s Park Saturday in the quarterfinals of the small-school state tournament.
“We had a good time up there,” said Williamsburg coach Don Stricklin. “We just ran into one of the best teams in the state.”
“I think playing in that atmosphere prepared us for the district tournament,” said Stricklin. “I believe that the experience will get us ready. We would like to have played better.”
The Eagles came in with a record of 16-2 with a win over top-ranked Lafayette, Danville and Dunbar just to mention a few. The lone losses had come from Lexington Catholic and Louisville St. Xavier.
“We knew they were going to be a very tough team,” said Stricklin.
After going down in order in the top of the first the game nearly got away from the Jackets in the bottom of the inning when the Eagles scored three runs on six solid hits. The Eagles left two runners stranded in the first frame but went on top, 3-0.
Defensively the Jackets held their own behind the pitching of senior John Reynolds and its outstanding defensive team.
Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard in the second or third innings. But the Eagles pushed six runs across in the bottom of the fourth on five base hits and one Williamsburg error.
Brent Foley broke the Eldridge no-hitter in the top of the fourth with a single to left field on a 1-1 pitch. Andy Greer then reached on a fielder’s choice as Foley went down at second. Matt Jones popped out to shortstop to end the inning.
The Eagles then took a 9-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The big hit was a triple by catcher Josh Rodgers.
Cody Harrell opened the top of the fifth with a single to the right side of the field. Reynolds then drew a walk from Young. Will Moses struck out and Geoffrey Witt reached on a fielder’s choice as Harrell went to third. Reynolds was the victim at second.
With two outs and runners on the corners freshman J.T. Shelley struck out to end the inning.
It looked like the game would go another inning when Hilen grounded out to Shelley, who replaced Reynolds on the mound. Oliver followed with a ground out before Rodgers doubled to right field.
Matt Nielsen came in to pinch run for the Rodgers and went to third on a Hargrove hit to shortstop. Hargis finished off the game with a single to right field for the game winning RBI.
•The Jackets rebounded with a win at South Laurel Monday, 9-7. “We didn’t get off to a real good start,” said Stricklin. “We just seem to wake up in the second inning and started scoring.”
The Jackets scored two in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth that put Williamsburg ahead 6-4. “Andy Greer had a big two-run hit in the fourth inning,” said Stricklin.
The Cardinals added two runs in the bottom of the fifth two tie the game but Williamsburg answered in the top of the sixth with a run to go ahead 7-6.
The Jackets pushed two more runs across in the seventh and held off a South Laurel rally to win the game.
Darrin Stanfill and Greer had two hits each while Will Moses and Witt led the team in runs. Moses scored three times while Witt crossed the plate twice.
“Our seven, eight and nine men scored six of the nine runs,” said Stricklin. “We just seem to explode in the bottom of the order.”
“We played some good defense and Matt Jones really pitched well,” Stricklin said. “The seven runs didn’t indicate how good of a game he pitched.”
The Jackets will be at home Thursday and Friday with Pineville and Berea coming in. Williamsburg was scheduled to play Corbin in a district game yesterday.

Williamsburg 021 301 2- 9 10 3
South Laurel 400 020 1- 7 11 6
Jones and Root. Proffitt, Crawford (5), Smith (7) and Kuhl. WP-Jones, LP-Crawford. 2B-Foley (W), Moses (W), Greene (SL).

All “A” State
Williamsburg 000 00- 0 0 3
Lex. Christian 300 61- 10 14 0
Reynolds, Shelley ((4) and Root. Eldridge, Young (5) and Rodgers. WP-Eldridge, LP-Reynolds. 2B-Rodgers (LC), Owen (LC). 3B-Roders (LC), Stanley (LC).