New Market, Winchester eliminated from VBL playoffs

The Valley Baseball League finals are set.

Covington defeated Winchester and Haymarket took down New Market in the second game of both series on Friday night. Both series were sweeps, and the finals will be a showdown between the two lowest seeds in the eight-team tournament, which started earlier this week.

Covington, seeded eighth, defeated top-seeded Front Royal in three games in the first round of the tournament. The Lumberjacks then swept the Royals, which culminated with Friday's 6-3 win in Covington.

The Royals, seeded fifth, were the highest remaining seed left in the postseason.

Sixth-seeded New Market couldn't muster any offense in its best-of-three series with seventh-seeded Haymarket. The Rebels were defeated 5-3 on Friday night to complete the sweep after losing 6-0 at home on Thursday.

New Market was victimized by Haymarket's three-run sixth inning on Friday night. The Rebels chipped away with runs in the seventh and ninth before falling short.

The best-of-three championship series is scheduled to get under way today, with seventh-seeded Haymarket hosting Game 1 after gaining home-field advantage.

Daily Staff Report