Merchant helps Warriors avoid quarterfinals upset

Daily Staff Reports

STEPHENS CITY -- Sherando senior Nick Merchant told coach Pepper Martin on Thursday that he wanted to pitch in the Warriors' Northwestern District tournament quarterfinal against Handley. Martin decided to let Merchant start the game and put him on a pitch cout. Merchant didn't disappoint as hed led the Warriors to a 6-2 win over the Judges in baseball action on Friday.

Merchant, who pitched on Wednesday for the Warriors, threw five innings and picked up the win and allowed only two hits. He threw only 60 pitches, before Curry Clevenger came in to finish the game.

"It was quite an effort from Nick," Sherando coach Pepper Martin said. "The kids knew that Nick was done after the fifth and I think they wanted to get more runs for him. We got three in the fifth to go up 6-0."

Sherando (17-5) scored three in the bottom of the first, led by RBI doubles from Derek Reid and Curry Clevenger. Blake Adams added a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth. The Warriors lost to Brentsville in a one-game playoff to determine the regular season champion and Martin said he was proud of the way the players responded.

"I was a little concerned we might be a little flat, because the kids were really disappointed," Martin said. "I think it was good for us to score three runs in the bottom of the first."

Kettle Run 6, Central 1

NOKESVILLE -- The Cougars scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull out a win over the Falcons in the Northwestern District tournament quarterfinals.

Sam Cross had a single and Sean Semones had an RBI single to lead the Falcons (11-9). Alex Palmerton took the loss on the mound for Central. The Falcons had only four hits in the game.

"It was a well played game until the sixth," Central coach Donn Foltz said. "Then they busted it wide open."

Brentsville 11, Millbrook 1, five innings

NOKESVILLE -- Quinn Courtney hit a home run in his last at-bat, but the Pioneers still lost to the Tigers in a Northwestern District tournament quarterfinal. The game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

Courtney went 2-for-3 to lead the Pioneers (7-13). Zak Butler also had a hit for Millbrook.

Softball

Sherando 5, Millbrook 0

STEPHENS CITY -- Courtney Paige and Brittany Larrick each had two hits and Nicole Musser tossed a complete-game shutout as the Warriors opened Northwestern District tournament play by beating the Pioneers.

Sherando, the top seed, scored two runs in the third and added three insurance runs in the sixth against eight-seeded Millbrook.

Musser, who improved to 14-3, scattered three hits and struck out 13.

Larrick drove in two runs for the Warriors.

Wilson 9, Stonewall Jackson 3

FISHERSVILLE -- The Generals saved their best games of the season for last, but still fell short against the Green Hornets in a Shenandoah District tournament quarterfinal.

"I think our team has played its two best ballgames of the season in the last two games," Stonewall Jackson coach Michael Hunt said. "Megan Getz has been our catalyst the last two games. She averaged .500 over the last two games and had four stolen bases. She really got us going in both those games."

Getz had a single, scored a run and had two stolen bases against the Green Hornets. Ashley Meadows also had an RBI single and a run scored for the Generals (2-20).

Girls soccer

Strasburg 2, Manassas Park 1, OT

MANASSAS PARK-- Taylor Hill scored a goal in overtime to give the Rams a Bull Run District tournament quarterfinal win over the Cougars.

"It was a pretty even game," Strasburg coach Jonathan Dodd said.

The Rams trailed 1-0 at halftime, but Kayla del'Aguila scored with 10 minutes left in regulation to tie it up. Caitlin Carter and Samantha Pence each had an assist.

Boys soccer

Millbrook 3, James Wood 1

WINCHESTER -- The Colonels frustrated and shut down the Pioneers' offense for most of the game, but Millbrook responded when it mattered the most. The Pioneers scored three goals in the last 13 minutes of the game to pull out a Northwestern District tournament quarterfinal win over the Colonels.

"They had a great gameplan and it worked," Millbrook coach Neil Hammond said. "We had a lot of chances, but we just hadn't finished them. I was proud of the kids. They were able to fight their way through this game and get the win."

Victor Baires scored the game's first goal with 13 minutes left on an assist from Welmer Landaverde. Benny Buono added another goal minutes later, but James Wood's Cory Chipman cut the lead to 2-1 with less than two minutes left. Millbrook's Alex Barrette then added an insurance goal to give Millbrook (13-3-1) the victory.