Photos by Tina Laney
Bluefield, Va. – Trailing 3-2 heading into the sixth inning, Shady exploded for two runs each in the final two innings, holding off a Bluefield rally to return to the Class AA state tournament with a 6-5 win over the Beavers Saturday at Bowen Field in Bluefield.
Josh Lovell keyed the rally with a single to open the sixth before a walk and a hit batsman eventually loaded the bases for Evan Belcher. He responded with a two-run single.
A fly ball from Lovell in the seventh and an RBI single from Aden Seabolt in the seventh made it 6-3 Shady but Bluefield threatened immediately in the bottom of the seventh.
A leadoff double from Bryson Redmond led to a run when Hunter Harmon scored him with a one-out single .
Walks issued to Kerry Collins and Ryker Brown loaded the bases for the Beavers with one out but a sac fly and a fly out induced by Shady pitcher David Young, who went the distance, sealed the victory.
The Tigers received the No. 4 seed in next week’s state tournament and will play defending Class AA state champion Logan on Thursday, June 2 at Power Park in Charleston. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m.
