UPDATED MAY 6TH
(1st)8-1 9-5 Fauquier
(2nd)8-2 12-4 Liberty
(3rd)7-2 10-2 Handley
(4th)5-5 10-6 Sherando
(5th)4-6 6-8 Brentsville
(6th)3-7 5-10 Warren County
(6th)3-7 7-9 Millbrook
(8th)1-7 1-13 James Wood
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Handley’s Offensive Onslaught Continues Against Wood
By Greg Brill
The Winchester Star
The Handley High School baseball team has been itching to get in some games.
Before beating Warren County Tuesday, the Judges had played a grand total of seven games.
Not exactly a high number for late April.
Handley got in a second game in two nights Wednesday at James Wood. And for the second straight game, the Judges broke out offensively.
Handley ripped two James Wood pitchers for 14 hits and the Judges also got another quality pitching performance from Jason Byrne in an 11-4 Northwestern District victory at R. Charles Hott Field.
Facing a team he has hit well against throughout his career, Handley senior shortstop Patrick Wingfield was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, going 3 for 3 with a double, home run, two walks (one intentional) and four RBIs in five trips.
Handley’s first four hitters in the order — Tyler Carroll, Josh Verts, Wingfield, and T.J. Clarke — combined to go 9 for 16 against James Wood.
“That’s why they’re a top tier team,” James Wood coach Jared Mounts said. “They can flat-out hit.”
On Tuesday, the Judges pounded Warren 9-2. With 20 runs and 27 hits in its last two games, Handley has been able to keep pace with Fauquier for the district lead.
The Judges and Falcons are tied atop the district at 7-1.
Handley is 8-1 overall.
“That’s what we’ve been waiting for — the hitters to come along,” Handley coach Eddie Simmons said. “When you play once a week they don’t come around. Our kids are seeing live pitching and we’re doing a little better.”
Handley had a 7-0 lead by the middle of the fourth inning, scoring three runs in both the third and fourth.
Wingfield hit a two-run homer to left after Verts led off with a four-pitch walk against Kory Campbell (0-3).
Clarke followed with a solid double to center and later scored on Justin Kitts’ sacrifice fly.
In the fourth, the Judges batted around and scored three more times. The top of the batting order got the rally going again, with Carroll, Verts, and Wingfield ripping consecutive one-out singles.
Behind 5-0, the Colonels (1-11, 1-6 district) should have been out of the inning after Bobby Amos hit a two-out dribbler back to Campbell with the bases loaded.
Campbell decided to go home and threw high, allowing Verts and Wingfield to cross with unearned runs.
Handley added four runs in the sixth, getting hits from bench players Cameron Emmart, David Wong, and Matt Ahrnsbrak to begin the rally.
“It’s great to see everyone hitting,” Wingfield said. “At the beginning of the season it was just a few of us. Now we get everyone (batters) one through nine and the bench coming through and getting hits.”
James Wood got a run back in the fourth, but for the second straight inning, with the game still not decided, the Colonels left the bases loaded.
“We didn’t get anything out of it and you can’t do that,” Mounts said. “Our guys came back in the last inning and put a couple on the board, but then it’s a little too late. You don’t want to say if, but (during) those other two bases-loaded (situations), if we get a couple there, who knows?”
Of course, Bryne found ways to get out of tight spots. A senior, Byrne (2-0), who beat Liberty 2-1 a couple of weeks ago, worked five good innings. Byrne allowed only two hits, an unearned run, and struck out eight.
“Jason was pitching as well as always,” Wingfield said. “We know he’s a great pitcher. With him and Josh (Verts is 4-1), there’s not going to be many people come around and hit the ball on them.”
The Colonels got three runs off Amos, who pitched the last two innings.
Campbell also pitched five for James Wood.
By Greg Brill
The Winchester Star
The Handley High School baseball team has been itching to get in some games.
Before beating Warren County Tuesday, the Judges had played a grand total of seven games.
Not exactly a high number for late April.
Handley got in a second game in two nights Wednesday at James Wood. And for the second straight game, the Judges broke out offensively.
Handley ripped two James Wood pitchers for 14 hits and the Judges also got another quality pitching performance from Jason Byrne in an 11-4 Northwestern District victory at R. Charles Hott Field.
Facing a team he has hit well against throughout his career, Handley senior shortstop Patrick Wingfield was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, going 3 for 3 with a double, home run, two walks (one intentional) and four RBIs in five trips.
Handley’s first four hitters in the order — Tyler Carroll, Josh Verts, Wingfield, and T.J. Clarke — combined to go 9 for 16 against James Wood.
“That’s why they’re a top tier team,” James Wood coach Jared Mounts said. “They can flat-out hit.”
On Tuesday, the Judges pounded Warren 9-2. With 20 runs and 27 hits in its last two games, Handley has been able to keep pace with Fauquier for the district lead.
The Judges and Falcons are tied atop the district at 7-1.
Handley is 8-1 overall.
“That’s what we’ve been waiting for — the hitters to come along,” Handley coach Eddie Simmons said. “When you play once a week they don’t come around. Our kids are seeing live pitching and we’re doing a little better.”
Handley had a 7-0 lead by the middle of the fourth inning, scoring three runs in both the third and fourth.
Wingfield hit a two-run homer to left after Verts led off with a four-pitch walk against Kory Campbell (0-3).
Clarke followed with a solid double to center and later scored on Justin Kitts’ sacrifice fly.
In the fourth, the Judges batted around and scored three more times. The top of the batting order got the rally going again, with Carroll, Verts, and Wingfield ripping consecutive one-out singles.
Behind 5-0, the Colonels (1-11, 1-6 district) should have been out of the inning after Bobby Amos hit a two-out dribbler back to Campbell with the bases loaded.
Campbell decided to go home and threw high, allowing Verts and Wingfield to cross with unearned runs.
Handley added four runs in the sixth, getting hits from bench players Cameron Emmart, David Wong, and Matt Ahrnsbrak to begin the rally.
“It’s great to see everyone hitting,” Wingfield said. “At the beginning of the season it was just a few of us. Now we get everyone (batters) one through nine and the bench coming through and getting hits.”
James Wood got a run back in the fourth, but for the second straight inning, with the game still not decided, the Colonels left the bases loaded.
“We didn’t get anything out of it and you can’t do that,” Mounts said. “Our guys came back in the last inning and put a couple on the board, but then it’s a little too late. You don’t want to say if, but (during) those other two bases-loaded (situations), if we get a couple there, who knows?”
Of course, Bryne found ways to get out of tight spots. A senior, Byrne (2-0), who beat Liberty 2-1 a couple of weeks ago, worked five good innings. Byrne allowed only two hits, an unearned run, and struck out eight.
“Jason was pitching as well as always,” Wingfield said. “We know he’s a great pitcher. With him and Josh (Verts is 4-1), there’s not going to be many people come around and hit the ball on them.”
The Colonels got three runs off Amos, who pitched the last two innings.
Campbell also pitched five for James Wood.
UVA ???? Patrick Wingfield ????
Handley -
What does that mean??
What does that mean??
Patrick has recv'd partial scholarship to play baseball at UVA. Article was in Northern VA Daily today, have no clue where the Winchester Star was ?
Hey is Verts playing legion this summer?
I cannot speak for Josh Verts, you'll need to ask him "directly" yourself.
Judges beat Eagles in arms race
May 4th, 2004
By JOHN O'BRIEN
Martinsburg Journal Sports Writer
HEDGESVILLE - With one out to go in Monday's doubleheader with Hedgesville, Handley, Va., coach Eddie Simmons figured he had prepared enough for the rest of the week.
So he put in Patrick Wingfield.
With both teams facing a busy week, each did their best to conserve their pitching staffs, but it was Handley (10-1) that proved to have better depth, sweeping the Eagles 2-0 and 8-6 with Wingfield, one of the Judges' two aces, getting the final out of the night with the go-ahead run at the plate.
"I tell you what, they have a pretty decent pitching staff. There's no doubt about it," said Hedgesville coach Ben Merica, whose 15-7 team is No. 7 in The Associated Press' latest poll.
Indiana-bound Josh Verts was only available for three innings in the first game, and the Virginia-bound Wingfield wasn't supposed to pitch at all.
But with the Eagles' rallying in the second game from an 8-2 deficit to make it 8-6 with two runners in scoring position, Simmons called on Wingfield to get Bryce Blair on a groundout that ended the game.
"We gave ourselves an opportunity to win it," Merica said. "If we get any kind of break at all and that ball doesn't come up on the third baseman, if it hits the lip of the grass and scoots through, then we're tied and still up trying to win it.
"Maybe we go into extra innings, too. But we're searching for arms so I'm not sure how long we would've been playing."
Merica saved Ross Pederson and A.J. Mason, the No. 3 and 4 starters, for Wednesday's doubleheader with Berkeley Springs. Consequently, he threw three inexperienced pitchers in the second game, and Handley took advantage.
The Judges banged out six hits in a four-run fourth, prompting Merica to bring in Aaron Whitford. Starter Logan Clark (0-1) gave up seven runs in his 3 1/3 innings.
A sixth-inning insurance run made it 8-2 before Corey Chaney doubled home Josh Huff in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-3. Duncan Williams followed with a home run to right field to shave the lead to 8-6.
J.J. Catlett threw a scoreless seventh, and Chaney blooped Webb home on an RBI double before Wingfield came in to retire Blair.
Wingfield only threw four pitches and should be ready for his next start, which is a big game in the Group AA Northwestern District.
"We've got four games this week, and two are big district games," Simmons said. "Patrick will start Wednesday against Fauquier, and they're tied for first place with us. Then Josh will pitch Friday against a big local rival, Millbrook."
Brian Ganey pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts. He improved to 2-0.
Verts pitched three innings and gave up one hit in the first game. Jason Byrne (3-0) relieved him and pitched four innings of one-hit ball to earn the win, striking out four and walking three. He also hit a solo home run in the fourth off Webb, who dropped to 4-3 despite allowing only six hits and one earned run.
"Once again, our inability to score any runs with Dirk pitching," Merica said.
Only Williams and Matt Bartgis had hits for Hedgesville, which has lost three in a row following its school-record 12-game winning streak.
Chaney was 4 for 4 in the second game with two RBI. Webb added a first-inning two-run homer that scored Williams. It was Webb's fifth home run of the year as the senior Shepherd-signee entered the day batting .611.
Webb (4-3) and Matt Yurish, who has pitched three no-hitters and hasn't allowed an earned run this year, are now scheduled to pitch in Friday's doubleheader with University.
"We were trying to get our pitching staff reset. It was a matter of finding people who could give us a chance (in the second game)," Merica said. "And, by George, they gave us a chance."
- John O'Brien can be reached at 263-8931, Ext. 131, or e-mail jobrien@journal-news.net
May 4th, 2004
By JOHN O'BRIEN
Martinsburg Journal Sports Writer
HEDGESVILLE - With one out to go in Monday's doubleheader with Hedgesville, Handley, Va., coach Eddie Simmons figured he had prepared enough for the rest of the week.
So he put in Patrick Wingfield.
With both teams facing a busy week, each did their best to conserve their pitching staffs, but it was Handley (10-1) that proved to have better depth, sweeping the Eagles 2-0 and 8-6 with Wingfield, one of the Judges' two aces, getting the final out of the night with the go-ahead run at the plate.
"I tell you what, they have a pretty decent pitching staff. There's no doubt about it," said Hedgesville coach Ben Merica, whose 15-7 team is No. 7 in The Associated Press' latest poll.
Indiana-bound Josh Verts was only available for three innings in the first game, and the Virginia-bound Wingfield wasn't supposed to pitch at all.
But with the Eagles' rallying in the second game from an 8-2 deficit to make it 8-6 with two runners in scoring position, Simmons called on Wingfield to get Bryce Blair on a groundout that ended the game.
"We gave ourselves an opportunity to win it," Merica said. "If we get any kind of break at all and that ball doesn't come up on the third baseman, if it hits the lip of the grass and scoots through, then we're tied and still up trying to win it.
"Maybe we go into extra innings, too. But we're searching for arms so I'm not sure how long we would've been playing."
Merica saved Ross Pederson and A.J. Mason, the No. 3 and 4 starters, for Wednesday's doubleheader with Berkeley Springs. Consequently, he threw three inexperienced pitchers in the second game, and Handley took advantage.
The Judges banged out six hits in a four-run fourth, prompting Merica to bring in Aaron Whitford. Starter Logan Clark (0-1) gave up seven runs in his 3 1/3 innings.
A sixth-inning insurance run made it 8-2 before Corey Chaney doubled home Josh Huff in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-3. Duncan Williams followed with a home run to right field to shave the lead to 8-6.
J.J. Catlett threw a scoreless seventh, and Chaney blooped Webb home on an RBI double before Wingfield came in to retire Blair.
Wingfield only threw four pitches and should be ready for his next start, which is a big game in the Group AA Northwestern District.
"We've got four games this week, and two are big district games," Simmons said. "Patrick will start Wednesday against Fauquier, and they're tied for first place with us. Then Josh will pitch Friday against a big local rival, Millbrook."
Brian Ganey pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts. He improved to 2-0.
Verts pitched three innings and gave up one hit in the first game. Jason Byrne (3-0) relieved him and pitched four innings of one-hit ball to earn the win, striking out four and walking three. He also hit a solo home run in the fourth off Webb, who dropped to 4-3 despite allowing only six hits and one earned run.
"Once again, our inability to score any runs with Dirk pitching," Merica said.
Only Williams and Matt Bartgis had hits for Hedgesville, which has lost three in a row following its school-record 12-game winning streak.
Chaney was 4 for 4 in the second game with two RBI. Webb added a first-inning two-run homer that scored Williams. It was Webb's fifth home run of the year as the senior Shepherd-signee entered the day batting .611.
Webb (4-3) and Matt Yurish, who has pitched three no-hitters and hasn't allowed an earned run this year, are now scheduled to pitch in Friday's doubleheader with University.
"We were trying to get our pitching staff reset. It was a matter of finding people who could give us a chance (in the second game)," Merica said. "And, by George, they gave us a chance."
- John O'Brien can be reached at 263-8931, Ext. 131, or e-mail jobrien@journal-news.net
One of the better high school pitched games that you'll see, just to bad that it was backed up with poor defense.
Falcons Top Judges in 9
By Greg Brill
The Winchester Star
Just one strike away.
When the Handley High School baseball team loses to Fauquier, it stings a little something extra.
Tuesday night’s 2-1 setback to the Falcons in nine innings possibly cost the Judges the Northwestern District’s regular season title.
The district-leading Falcons scored the tying run on a dropped, two-out throw in the seventh inning then got the go-ahead run in the ninth on a suicide squeeze.
Fauquier (9-5, 8-1 district) won its sixth straight and swept the season series from Handley (10-2, 7-2 district).
That means should the teams finished tied at the end of the season, the Falcons hold the tie-breaker for the district’s automatic Region II berth.
“It was an amazing game,” said Fauquier junior second baseman Philip Ethier, who knocked in Dan Zyla with his bunt in the ninth. “I’m looking forward to playing them again in the postseason. They’re a great team.”
Even with extra innings, the game took only one hour and 46 minutes to play.
In a game with only three runs, it’s easy to figure pitching had something to do with the low score.
It did. Fauquier sophomore Mike Manfro and Handley senior Patrick Wingfield put on a classic duel.
Wingfield no-hit the famously strong hitting Falcons until Manfro singled with one out in the seventh. Manfro held the Judges hitless until Tyler Carroll’s infield hit with two outs in the sixth.
Handley coach Eddie Simmons lifted Wingfield before the start of the ninth. In his eight innings, Wingfield (112 pitches) allowed only two hits and an unearned run. The University of Virginia signee walked two and struck out four in the no-decision.
“He’s not really happy for me taking him out, I can tell you that,” Simmons said. “He threw 112 pitches, which is higher than we like to let our kids go.
“The kid’s got a scholarship to U.Va., and one game is not worth hurting him.”
Manfro allowed two runners to reach with one out in the Handley eighth, but a double play ended the threat.
Fauquier built off its defensive gem by taking advantage of another Handley breakdown in the field.
In the ninth, Zyla drew a leadoff walk on a 3-2 pitch from Judges reliever Josh Verts (4-2). Manfro then dropped a bunt and Verts threw high to first for Handley’s sixth error of the game, moving Zyla to third and Manfro took second.
The runners then held on Blake Hill’s ground out, but the Falcons wasted no time with Ethier at the plate.
With Zyla charging hard, Either tapped a curveball from Verts to get the RBI.
“It (the off-speed pitch) worried me when I saw it leave his hand,” Ethier said. “I just caught the top half of the ball and it went down.”
“We knew if Hill didn’t drive (Zyla) in someway, we were going to squeeze,” Fauquier first-year coach Paul Koch said. “You have to there.”
From there, it was up to Manfro (5-0) to finish things.
The Judges’ Justin Kitts, who reached on a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch with two outs. But Manfro finished his complete game by getting Bobby Amos to fly to deep center for the final out.
Manfro, who did not face Handley in Fauquier’s 4-2 home win over the Judges on April 6, allowed two hits, walked five, struck out seven, and allowed an unearned run in making 114 pitches.
“Manfro’s been awesome, basically his last four outings,” Koch said. “Just dominant.
“He’s challenging guys. I think he believes in what we’re telling him to do and he just does it.”
Handley got its only run in the sixth to move ahead 1-0. Wingfield reached on a two-out error and scored when Carroll’s single in the hole trickled off Fauquier shortstop Matt Steele’s glove.
Verts had a single in the ninth, but that was it for Handley.
“He was just getting us out with his fastball,” Wingfield said. “Every pitch seemed like we were under it. It was an off-night for us.”
All the way around. Wingfield (1-0, two saves) was on the verge of a 1-0 win with two outs in the seventh. With a runner on second, Ethier hit a grounder to short.
But Verts’ throw to first was dropped by Brian Ganey, and courtesy runner Derek Goff scored to make it 1-1.
“That’s two years in a row that we’ve had them down to their last strike,” Simmons said.
Falcons Top Judges in 9
By Greg Brill
The Winchester Star
Just one strike away.
When the Handley High School baseball team loses to Fauquier, it stings a little something extra.
Tuesday night’s 2-1 setback to the Falcons in nine innings possibly cost the Judges the Northwestern District’s regular season title.
The district-leading Falcons scored the tying run on a dropped, two-out throw in the seventh inning then got the go-ahead run in the ninth on a suicide squeeze.
Fauquier (9-5, 8-1 district) won its sixth straight and swept the season series from Handley (10-2, 7-2 district).
That means should the teams finished tied at the end of the season, the Falcons hold the tie-breaker for the district’s automatic Region II berth.
“It was an amazing game,” said Fauquier junior second baseman Philip Ethier, who knocked in Dan Zyla with his bunt in the ninth. “I’m looking forward to playing them again in the postseason. They’re a great team.”
Even with extra innings, the game took only one hour and 46 minutes to play.
In a game with only three runs, it’s easy to figure pitching had something to do with the low score.
It did. Fauquier sophomore Mike Manfro and Handley senior Patrick Wingfield put on a classic duel.
Wingfield no-hit the famously strong hitting Falcons until Manfro singled with one out in the seventh. Manfro held the Judges hitless until Tyler Carroll’s infield hit with two outs in the sixth.
Handley coach Eddie Simmons lifted Wingfield before the start of the ninth. In his eight innings, Wingfield (112 pitches) allowed only two hits and an unearned run. The University of Virginia signee walked two and struck out four in the no-decision.
“He’s not really happy for me taking him out, I can tell you that,” Simmons said. “He threw 112 pitches, which is higher than we like to let our kids go.
“The kid’s got a scholarship to U.Va., and one game is not worth hurting him.”
Manfro allowed two runners to reach with one out in the Handley eighth, but a double play ended the threat.
Fauquier built off its defensive gem by taking advantage of another Handley breakdown in the field.
In the ninth, Zyla drew a leadoff walk on a 3-2 pitch from Judges reliever Josh Verts (4-2). Manfro then dropped a bunt and Verts threw high to first for Handley’s sixth error of the game, moving Zyla to third and Manfro took second.
The runners then held on Blake Hill’s ground out, but the Falcons wasted no time with Ethier at the plate.
With Zyla charging hard, Either tapped a curveball from Verts to get the RBI.
“It (the off-speed pitch) worried me when I saw it leave his hand,” Ethier said. “I just caught the top half of the ball and it went down.”
“We knew if Hill didn’t drive (Zyla) in someway, we were going to squeeze,” Fauquier first-year coach Paul Koch said. “You have to there.”
From there, it was up to Manfro (5-0) to finish things.
The Judges’ Justin Kitts, who reached on a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch with two outs. But Manfro finished his complete game by getting Bobby Amos to fly to deep center for the final out.
Manfro, who did not face Handley in Fauquier’s 4-2 home win over the Judges on April 6, allowed two hits, walked five, struck out seven, and allowed an unearned run in making 114 pitches.
“Manfro’s been awesome, basically his last four outings,” Koch said. “Just dominant.
“He’s challenging guys. I think he believes in what we’re telling him to do and he just does it.”
Handley got its only run in the sixth to move ahead 1-0. Wingfield reached on a two-out error and scored when Carroll’s single in the hole trickled off Fauquier shortstop Matt Steele’s glove.
Verts had a single in the ninth, but that was it for Handley.
“He was just getting us out with his fastball,” Wingfield said. “Every pitch seemed like we were under it. It was an off-night for us.”
All the way around. Wingfield (1-0, two saves) was on the verge of a 1-0 win with two outs in the seventh. With a runner on second, Ethier hit a grounder to short.
But Verts’ throw to first was dropped by Brian Ganey, and courtesy runner Derek Goff scored to make it 1-1.
“That’s two years in a row that we’ve had them down to their last strike,” Simmons said.
Wednesday night scores :
Hertiage 4 Millbrook 3
Liberty 10 James Wood 0
Hertiage 4 Millbrook 3
Liberty 10 James Wood 0