Rappahannock hurler Landon Schefflein delivers an off-speed pitch during the Raiders’ win over Northumberland in the Region 1A championship game.
Landon Schefflein tossed a five-inning two hitter and helped his cause at the plate with three hits as Rappahannock repeated as the Region 1A baseball champion following a 10-0 triumph over Northumberland in the region’s title game.
The contest, which was called after 4 ½ innings due to the 10-run mercy rule, was played June 5 in Warsaw.
“All we wanted today was one more run than them and it feels good not having to get on a bus (for a first round state game),” Rappahannock coach Jim Bieger said.
Schefflein struck out seven and walked three in a 77-pitch outing.
“Today, he was able to throw three different pitches for a strike,” Bieger said. “He’s been a workhorse for us the last four years. (Northumberland) roughed him up the last time here, but he did a good job of bouncing back.”
“I felt good during my bullpen,” Schefflein said. “I threw all my pitches for strikes and felt good. I did the same thing when I came out here for the start of the game.”
Rappahannock right fielder Kaylee Johnson settles under a fly ball during the Lady Raiders Region 1A championship game victory over Lancaster.
“Schefflein was extremely effective today,” Northumberland coach Michael Baker observed. “Overall, that was an extremely well-prepared team for what we wanted to do today and we had no answers for their offense.”
The Raiders broke the contest open with an 8-run second inning.
“We did a good job of putting the bat on the ball and we have a few guys get hit (by a pitch),” Schefflein commented. “When stuff like that happens, you can score some runs.”
At the plate, Schefflein went three-for-three with a double. Teammate Brayden Hayes finished two-for-two with a pair of RBIs.
“Coach Garrett (Withers) has been working with me a lot about sitting back on the ball, and getting better,” Hayes observed about his offensive performance. “I’ve come a long way with my bat since last year. It’s felt good that something has finally clicked.”
Hayes drove in two runs with a pair of singles during the Rappahannock second when the Raiders sent 13 batters to the plate. Cain Edwards produced a two-run single, Schefflein hit an RBI single, Carter Sullivan delivered a sacrifice fly, while Landon King and Chase Self were hit by pitches with the bases loaded to account for the inning’s other two runs.
Rappahannock shortstop Cain Edwards prepares to field a ground ball during Region 1A championship game action against Northumberland.
Both Rappahannock (18-3) and Northumberland (14-4) advanced to the Class 1 state tournament. Rappahannock hosted William Campbell on June 9 in a first round game, while Northumberland visited Altavista.
“We’ve got a resilient group and hopefully they’ll find a way to bounce back from this,” Baker said. “Our kids are still excited about making the state tournament, except we will be on a bus instead of at our place.”
In softball, Rappahannock continued its regional dominance as the Lady Raiders nipped Lancaster 3-2 in the championship game.
Regan Barrack’s two-out, RBI single scored Jenna Moore with the game winning run. Moore entered the game as a courtesy runner after Mackenzie Withers opened the inning with a pinch hit single.
Moore was then sacrificed to second and third before Barrack delivered her gamewinning hit.
Rappahannock deadlocked the score at 2-2 on a Cameron Nash RBI double.
Rappahannock, which defeated Lancaster 6-0 and 8-3 during the regular season, ran its winning streak to 15.
The Lady Raiders (16-3) hosted William Campbell in a Class 1 state tournament first round game on June 9. Lancaster (13-8) played at Buffalo Gap.
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