Northern Region Semi-Finals

Lake Braddock will win it all.

I wouldn't bet against any of them...I'm sure that Woodson and West Springfield used more pitching than they wanted to, but I wouldn't count them out...

Lake Braddock has beaten Woodson twice this year, but not sure that means anything at this point...I'll go out on a limb with Madison / WS and suggest that Madison will win just because of Fairfax forcing them to use Wahl and extending the game...

I think Lake Braddock has the inside track on winning it all. They are probably set up the best for pitching, and have a great hitting line up. The first Woodson/LB game was close but the second game was all Lake Braddock. Havent seen Madison this year.

Starting with the late game - Woodson is definitely the hot team coming into the semis. Taking out both Westfield and Mclean is quite an accomplishment and were they to lose to Lake Braddock, I think everyone would agree it was a great run. Lake Braddock had a much easier time of it getting to the semis, but, they had to win them to get here, so it sets up a third game with Woodson. As much as I would like to ride the hot team, I just can't see Rutherford failing to get his team back to States. I think LB's experience in big games will be the difference. This is the time of year when Rutherford is at his best. Not sure who Woodson gives the ball to, while LB has a fresh Towns and Lindemuth to choose from. While I wouldn't consider either of them lights-out shutdown pitchers, both are capable of great performances. It will take a monumental effort for the Cavaliers to knock LB off. It won't be a rout, but Lake Braddock gets back to States.

Early game - even though Madison is a 1 seed and West Springfield a 2, I think most would agree that Madison is the surprise team here. (In my bracket I had South County playing West Springfield) Madison gets here via (4)Hayfield (5-0), and (2)Centreville (4-2). West Springfield via (3)Robinson (4-1), and (4)Fairfax (7-6). West Springfield has had to use Wahl for 11 innings in their 2 games, as no one has laid claim to being THE #2 pitcher. No word on who takes the ball for WS tomorrow afternoon. WS had to come from behind, late, in both of their games to get here. That said, it has been a few years since Pudge has had his Madison boys on this stage. They are definitely peaking at the right time, but I think experience counts for a lot in post-season play and i think somehow WS finds a way to get it done. Expect a close game, maybe even extra frames in this one.

Sorry to intrude in your Northern Region thread but some of us in the Eastern Region have questions on how the 16-team Regional works in the Northern Region. We understand you have both district tournaments and the 16-team Regional. Below are some of the questions if one of you would kindly answer. It would be helpful if you would post the response in the thread entitled Eastern Regional.

How does it work in the Northern Region? It has been said that they have district tournaments in addition to advancing four teams from each district to Regionals. Are the district tournaments composed of the top four teams from each district or does it vary by district? (In the Eastern Region, the Southeastern District has a four-team district tournament and the Beach District has an eight-team district tournament.) Which teams advance to Regionals – the top four from district tournament? Does the regular season winner get to advance to the Regionals automatically or does it just affect the seeding for the Regional tournament? How is the seeding for Regionals done – based upon regular season finish or based upon tournament play? Is my math correct that it adds at least two extra games to some teams’ schedules (which is a good thing)?

Thanks for your help.

I'll try to answer.

The top four finishers in the District Tournament qualify for Regionals. The two teams with the best regular season (District) records move into the semi-finals of the district tournament which guarantees them a spot in the region tournament. The third & fourth place teams in the regular season get a bye into the quarterfinal game of the district tournament.

District Tournament:
1st round:
5 vs 8 seed
6 vs 7 seed

2nd round:
Winner of 5 vs 8 seeds plays number 4 seed
Winner of 6 vs 7 seeds plays number 3 seed

Semi-final: These four teams have qualified for the region tourney and are seeded in the order they finish in the district tournament.
1 vs 4
2 vs 3

Golfball, Thank you.

One item to point out is that the winner of the regular season is guaranteed no worst than a second seed in the regionals. Therefore if in the 1 vs 4 game in the semis -- should 4 win the 1 seed would get a second seed in the regional tourney.

Thanks, Bxbomber.

West Springfield 13
Madison 6

Lots of hitting, double digits for both teams. Morgan started for WS and gave up a 3-spot in the 1st. Settled down and kept WS in the game. Wahl came in to put out a fire in the 6th on 3 pitches. Snook mopped up in the 7th. WS awaits the winner of LB/Woodson for an all-Patriot final.

who hit for Madison?

Not sure. I don't know the Madison kids very well and wasn't keeping a book.

Woodson 11
Lake Braddock 3

Heard Madison's #1 pitcher was injured on Sunday and did not pitch Monday or today...not sure if it is true or not - can anybody update?

Congrats to WS and Woodson...Both solid teams...Woodson is obviously on a roll at the right time having now beaten Westfield, McLean and Lake Braddock...

Actually, WB Reporter, Golfball's information on the District tournaments in the northern region applies to 3 of the 4 districts in the region. The National District does it differently. I believe the 1 and 2 seeds are guaranteed to get into the regional tournament, but the district tournament is held in a traditional 8 team format, with 1 versus 8 in the quarterfinals, etc. There are no byes.

Woodson holding a stong hitting team to 3 runs was huge. They put up 11 runs with contributions all thru the lineup. John McGillicudy pitching a complete game saved some arms for West Springfield. Woodson has faced the some of the top pitchers in the region to make it to the final, and now get Bobby Wahl for the third time.

Actually, Woodson only faced Wahl once and he pitched a 1 hitter in 6 innings.

They faced him during the regular season and in the district semi-finals.

I stand corrected. How did they do in the second outing against Wahl?

West Springfield wins it.

Complete dominance by Wahl.

Got any details? Im anxious to hear about his dominance.

5 innings of no hit ball today.....enough said.

Dont want to sound like a sore loser,but I have to disagree with the total domination. Wahl had three strikeouts in his five innings. Woodson put the ball in play, and had several hard hit balls against Wahl, but they were right to the defense. West Springfield definetaly crushed some balls. The game was similar to the Woodson vs. LB game. Against LB, it seemed every Woodson ball found a whole, and every LB ball found a defender. West Springfield was clearly the better team, but I dont think it was as dominating as some previous posters suggest. A class act by West Springfield to agree to move the game up and allow the 7 or 8 seniors to go to their prom

bcb3 is correct in his analysis. Wahl did not have his best stuff despite tossing no-hit ball. I think it's fair to say that the West Springfield boys really wanted to see Woodbridge at home on Tuesday night. They would have loved the opportunity to avenge that loss over spring break and spoil the Vikings perfect season. Now they would only meet if they both get to the final. I'm sure the Woodson faithful are thankful they only have to drive to Woodbridge Tuesday night, as opposed to 260 miles to Franklin County! Woodbridge will have their hands full with Woodson and it would not surprise me one bit to see Woodson advance to Friday. Best of luck to the Cavs.

Not saying you are a sore loser, but most of the Woodson hits were routine. Wahl shut Woodson down for the third time and from what I understand from others posts on this board, it was after Wahl pitched extra innings in all the regional games to get his team through. That is dominance.

Pitchng without your best stuff and still no hit ball, sounds even more impressive.

I am a little puzzled at the comment "Woodson hit the ball hard, but right at the defense". Even if true, explain how as soon as Wahl was relieved all the hard hit balls were hits.

Still leaning towards thinking this was a dominant performance, especially on top of the extra innings pitched in previous games.

Good point. Wahl pitched an outstanding game, no doubt about it. Maybe since I've seen him pitch many times over the last few years I am comparing it to some of his other performances. He didnt have his best stuff and still shut down Woodson. I am pretty confident that if he had stayed in the game, Woodson wouldnt have put 7 runs on the board. Good luck to West Springfield in states.

bcb3, and I have seen Woodson many times this year. In NO way am I taking anythng away from them. They very easily could have busted loose on Wahl in the next inning. I was just speaking to what was done that night. I would even say, look out Woodbridge.

Woodson, great addition to the Patriot District.