R-H, Central Have Nine Inning Classic – Statesmen Roll Past Nottoway and Bluestone

VICTORIA – The Central Chargers and Randolph-Henry Statesmen played a great game last week with both teams having rallies at the right time and Central outlasting R-H in a 6-5 nine inning baseball classic.

The two teams were held off the scoreboard for the first half of the game with Skyler Lacks and Ethan Hoover both pitching well and the two starters getting strong defense behind them. In the fourth inning R-H got on the board as Lacks singled and scored to help himself in the game.

Central answered back with a run in the fifth as Nate Nowlin reached base, stole second and scored to tie the game at 1-1.

The game was tied going into the final inning when L.J. Watson singled, Nowlin walked and an error on a sacrifice bunt from Christian Hall allowed both runners to score.  Hall eventually scored and Central appeared to have the game in hand, but R-H rallied in their last at bat.

Shane Robbins singled, Devin Marianinno had a pinch hit double and Jordan Jones had a hit with all three scoring on a Central error to tie the game at 4-4.

Eli Moore came in for a relief appearance for the Statesmen and kept Central off the board until the 9^th inning when Watson reached base, Hall reached on an error and both scored on a Hoover double. Christian Hall came in to pitch for Central and it looked like R-H would make another rally as Jackson Harding led off with a single, Tyrik Beattie singled the Statesmen loaded the bases before Hall got a strikeout. A fielder’s choice scored one run, but R-H didn’t get the last run across and the game ended 6-5.

Both teams played tough and offered an entertaining game for fans despite cold temperatures. After the loss, R-H ran off two wins that week with victories over Nottoway and Bluestone.