By RODNEY YOUNG
NRVSports.net
It was a warm, sunny late afternoon at Christianburg High School Wednesday as the Class 1 Region C baseball championship was on the line.
The Fort Chiswell Pioneers would get a walk-off extra innings single from Isaac Haislip with two out and two strikes, as he drove in Eli Eversole for the winning 4-3 run in eight innings. Haislip was the starting pitcher for the Pioneers as he went 6.0 innings. He gave up three runs, two were earned. He surrendered eight hits and struck out five. Eversole would replace Haislip on the mound, and he picked up the win. He went 2.0 innings, gave up no runs, no hits, and struck out three.
Eversole at the plate was two for two and walked twice. He scored two runs and drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the eighth, and had an RBI. Mac Phillips also had two hits and an RBI.
Auburn would score first in the first inning as Colin Roark knocked in Brody Hensel.
Fort Chiswell ( 19-4) would tie the game in their half of the first as Owen Jackson scored on a sac fly from Spencer Moser. They would tack on runs in the second and third innings, to go up 3-1 after three.
Auburn Eagles would cut their deficit to 3-2 at the top of the fifth with Hensel scoring on a Canyon Calhoun single. They would then tie the game in the top of the sixth as Braxton Pettus laid down a perfect squeeze bunt. Eagles starting pitcher Alex Young went just a third of an inning. He gave up a run and walked three. Calhoun would then come in and pitch 7.1 innings, and was the losing pitcher. He gave up three runs, nine hits, and five walks, of which two were intentional. Hit one by the pitch and struck out four.
Hensel scored two runs, had two hits, and Calhoun had two hits. The Eagles would leave the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings. The loss snapped the Eagles’ thirteen-game winning streak, and they are now 19-5.
Auburn head coach Eric Altizer said, “One heck of a ballgame. We had our chances there in the fifth and sixth innings. Haislip pitched well for them, and he drove in the winning run.” He then added, “Canyon (Calhoun) pitched well for us. We executed a squeeze play, and Fort Chiswell is a good team.”
Fort Chiswell head coach Derrick Jackson remarked, “Auburn is a tough team. Haislip (Isaac) pitched a heck of a game, as did Eli (Eversole) in relief. We will get back to work and get ready for next week.”
Auburn will travel to Class 1 Region D champions, Patrick Henry Rebels, on Tuesday, June 9. The game will probably be held at Emory & Henry University. Time to be announced.
Fort Chiswell will now host the Chilhowie Warriors, Class 1 Region D runners-up. The game is slated for Tuesday, June 9. First pitch time to be announced.
Auburn – 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 – 3
Fort Chiswell 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1- 4
Auburn – 3 runs – 8 hits- 0 errors- 11 LOB
Fort Chiswell – 4 runs- 9 hits- 1 error- 9 LOB
Auburn- LP – Calhoun
Fort Chiswell;- WP – Eversole
