Southeastern District Tournament

If I am not mistaken Hickory had a 1 run lead going to the 7th.  If you thought going in you might have a walk over by the 7th you should be dispelled of that notion.  If Carter went 6 to that point then it might have been a spot to bring in a fresh arm and give the hitters a different look.  Especially if you are sitting on 1B or 1A depending on your point of view. 

Of course if they close it out and he comes back today then we are having the coach is abusing the arms conversation which is also a legit point of view.  If that is why the coach held him then I respect him for that.  It is better to lose that game than mess with a 16/17 year old arm of that caliber.

In a little more than one hour, #3 seed Grassfield and #4 Western Branch will face off for the right to go to the Eastern Regionals starting Memorial Day.  At the start of the tournament, I wonder how many fans, parents and players thought that Great Bridge and Hickory would meet in the SED final game simply because Great Bridge had been the most dominant team or Hickory had twice defeated Grassfield during the regular season.  Good luck to both teams tonight!

Just got word from relatively reliable source Grassfield won last score update I had was GF 8 WB 4-no other details will look to others with more info for that.

It is my understanding that this is accurate.  Grassfield pounded out 14 hits, I believe, to include a couple of bombs.  They certainly are riding some serious momentum.  Congratulations to Grassfield.

Congratulations to Grassfield.  From game 1 of the season they didn't get much respect but finished with a 14-4 regular season record and a trip to Regionals after running the table in the district tourney. .

Grassfield 8, Western Branch 4. 

GF scored first when Ben Berczek hit a lead-off solo homer in the bottom of the 2nd.  WB responded in the top of the 3rd when Justin Hayes led off with his second single of the night, followed by a Grant Maiorana double to plate Hayes, and a Zach Rutherford double to plate Maiorana.  With 2 outs, Alex Hunt singled in Rutherford for the third run of the inning.

In a deja vu moment, Berczek hit a lead-off solo homer in the bottom of the 4th, his third homerun in two nights.  GF managed to load the bases with three singles by Dean Lowery, Dwight Riddick and Donnie Reed, with only 1 out, but Rutherford worked out of the jam, leaving Berczek's solo homer as the lone run of the half inning.  At the end of 4, the score was WB 3, GF 2.  Both teams went in order in the 5th.  In the top of the 6th, WB added an insurance run.  Justin Hayes tripled (for his 4th hit of the game) to drive in Mason who had walked.  The bottom of the 6th, however, was WB's undoing and proved they did not have enough insurance.  Garrett Crowley lead off with a single followed immediately by Lowery's double, Riddick's double (to plate Crowley and Lowery).  A pitching change ensued.  Roth, the new WB pitcher, retired 2 immediately but walked Salladay.  Another barrage of hitting (single by Andrew Bullock, double by Matt Burcham and single by Berczek) plated 3 more.  At the end of 6, GF 8, WB 4.  #5 for GF, who pitched the complete game, retired WB in order in the top of the 7th inning.

Those with multiple hits on the evening were:

For WB, Hayes 4-4 (w 1 3B); Alex Hunt 2-3

For GF, Reed 2-4; Berczek 3-4 (w 2HRs); Lowery 2-3 (w 2B); Riddick 3-3 (w 2B).

WP #5

LP: Rutherford

GF will face the Beach District regular season champion, Kellam, at 7 pm Memorial Day.

Will be glad to fill in names or correct spellings if provided.

Big congrats to Grassfield.