PULASKI
Last season’s Powhatan juniors grew into this year’s “Blonde Bombers” as the Indians moved into the Group AA baseball finals after eliminating Waynesboro in the semifinals Friday morning.
The Indians’ bats were as hot as the broiling sun beating down on the beautiful Calfee Park.

PULASKI — Having used both aces in the state quarterfinals, Waynesboro and Powhatan had to pitch their No. 2 starters. It seemed fitting that whoever could score quick and often would win the game. Riding the powerful hitting of their No. 3 and 4 hitters, Powhatan hammered the Little Giants, 15-3, in the first Group AA semifinal of the day.

What is it they say again when it heats up and standing outside is about as comfortable as sitting in a hot-dog steamer? Don’t they tell you to check on the young? The sick? The infirm?

Waynesboro will dismiss the mere suggestion that Group AA semifinals make them quiver.
“Look, does that look like a bunch of kids that are nervous,” Critzer said pointing to the dug out. “We’re not nervous, what do we have to be nervous about?”
Last year the Little Giants were defeated by Hidden Valley at Calfee Park. Critzer shrugged off the do or die situation that his team faces today against Powhatan in the Group AA semifinals.

The sun set in left field at Baltimore Park in Powhatan one-year ago today while Waynesboro celebrated in the dugout.
“How many miracles do you want?” Waynesboro coach Jim Critzer asked.
The Little Giants had just knocked off the Indians in a 2-1 thriller that walked a thin line of infringing on the copyright of a Disney movie.

When Waynesboro slugger Jay Thompson’s name was announced over the public address system on May 30 in the Region III semifinals in Amherst, Jefferson Forest took notice.
Cavalier fans shouted, “move back the outfield,” or “pitch around that guy, he can hit.”

Little Giant catcher Kendall Wolfe guards home plate with all his heart, usually soiled with dirt and sweat pouring off his face.
Through the season he has picked up a few lessons and is learning to control his throws when runners are in motion and threaten to steal.
The Little Giants are making their second in as many years to Calfee Park to play in the Group AA Final Four against Powhatan. Last season they were ousted by Hidden Valley.

What were you planning on thinking? Something along the lines of David Blaine, done proving to the world how big of a tool he is by taking six hours to lick himself out of a block of frozen salsa, decided to come to the River City, wave his hands and make Josh Craig’s bat go “poof” and disappear into thin air?
What? Did you imagine some mad-as-all-get-up Southern Valley coach, still holding a grudge over the senior’s timely hitting during the regular season and district tournament, overnighted his Little Giants’ first baseman voodoo doll to Region III?

They have the bats that have punched holes in opposing pitchers this season.
Eric Hall and Derek Hall made the offensive sledgehammer that kept the Little Giants rolling this season. Many of the Giant players played together as youngsters and by the time they reached their freshmen year in high school, they had an idea about each others personalities and who can do damage on the diamond.

With their 6-2 victory over Abingdon on Tuesday night, the Little Giants are one step closer to the state crown.

Even when odds and reality suggested otherwise, Abingdon’s baseball team thought it could rally for a win in Tuesday’s Group AA quarterfinal.
After all, the Falcons wiped out a 9-3 deficit with six outs left against Hidden Valley in Friday’s Region IV finals.

Abingdon coach Mark Francisco normally uses this week to prepare for his instructional camp that he gives for area Little Leaguers.
“I’ve got to order shirts for it this week,” he said Sunday night.
In between gathering registration forms and picking up T-shirts, Francisco still has a baseball team to coach.
Not that he minds one iota.

Waynesboro coach Jim Critzer said his team is evenly matched in tonight’s Group AA quarterfinals against Abingdon.
“I see a lot of similarities, they’re not per se a dominating team,” Critzer said. “They know how to comeback, they showed that against Hidden Valley on Friday night. They have a couple of good pitchers and when one is not pitching, the other one plays short stop. It’s pretty much what we do with [Jeremy] Hahn and Joseph [Lucas].”

The standard bearer for Waynesboro this season was “never surrender.” Freshman Drew DeMoss discovered that during his short tenure wearing a Little Giants’ jersey. Last Thursday, DeMoss stopped the bleeding in relief and closed the door on Jefferson Forest 10-8 for the Group AA berth. He will join the hurlers Joseph Lucas and Jeremy Hahn. Those three arms are expected to carry the Giants in their bid for a return trip the Final Four.
DeMoss is enthralled by the prospect of going all the way in his rookie season.

Don’t blink.

You’ll miss Terrell Thompson on the base paths.

Try not to close your eyes for a second or you’ll miss Waynesboro’s speedy junior, and hands down the most dangerous player in the Southern Valley District (and Region III, maybe?), score.