By Rodney Young
NRVSports.net
Fort Chiswell Pioneers hosted the Chilhowie Warriors in a State Quarter-final game, as the visiting Warriors defeated the homestanding Pioneers 7-3 in a game played in a light/ sprinkling rain for most of the contest.
Chilhowie got on the board early as Bryce Robinson led off, drawing a walk. Then Brent Kilbourne took an Owen Jackson fastball and deposited it over the left field fence to go up 2-0.
The game stayed that way until Fort Chiswell (19-5) scored three times in the bottom of the second. Cooper Davis led off with a single, Brody Musser singled, and Kam Ward got an infield hit to load the bases. Eli Eversole then hit into a force at second, scoring Davis. Cooper Reynolds would drive in Musser to make it 2-2. Then, with two outs, Mac Phillips would single sharply to center, scoring Eversole and taking a 3-2 lead.
Chilhowie would retake the lead at the top of the fourth as Bryce Robinson and Jayden Schwartz doubled to center, scoring, Gonzalez and Robinson to go up 4-3. They would then tack on two more runs in the fifth as Gavin Walker doubled over the left fielder’s head, scoring Asher Chapman and Brandon Miller. The Warriors would score again in the sixth with Schwartz drawing a base on balls. He then drew a throw to first, and the ball got by the first baseman, and he ended up at third. He then scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-3.
Chilhowie (19-8) head coach Jeff Robinson said, Kilbourne’s homer in the first and Walker’s two-run double were big hits for us. Tyler (Gonzalez ), a freshman, and Bryce (Robinson), a freshman, pitched extremely well. They are beyond their years. Our seniors on this team have played in like 78 games in their careers. I like that experience .”
The Warriors got two hits from Chapman and Walker. Bret Kilbourne hit a homer and had two RBI, as Wlaker also had two RBI. Freshman pitcher Tyler Gonzalez went 5.2 innings. He allowed 11 hits but surrendered just three runs, with only two being earned. He struck out eight and issued just one walk. Freshman Robinson ( Bryce) came in and picked up the save, going 1.1 innings. He allowed no hits, no runs.
Fort Chiswell’s Owen Jackson was the starting and losing pitcher. He went 3.1 innings, allowed four runs, and five hits. He walked four and struck out six. Isaac Haislip then pitched two innings, giving up three runs, three hits, and walking three.
Jackson, Phillips, Davis, and Brody Musser all had two hits apiece. Phillips, Eli Eversole, and Cooper Reynolds had one RBi each. Pioneers head coach Derrick Jackson remarked, “ We left too many men on base. Chilhowie got big hits when they needed them, and we didn’t. We had our chances, especially there in the third, fourth, and sixth innings.”
Chilhowie will now play on Friday morning against the Rappahannock / Luray winner. The game is scheduled for 9 am at Kiwanis Field in Salem.
Chilhowie – 2 0 0 2 2 1 0 – 7
Fort Chiswell- 0 3 0 0 0 0 0- 3
Chilhowie – 7 runs- 8 hits- 1 error- 8 LOB
Fort Chiswell- 3 runs – 11 hits- 1 error – 9 LOB
Chilhowie – WP – Gonzalez
Fort Chiswell – LP – Jackson
Chilhowie – Save- Bry. Robinson
