Draft takes over Hill City, beats Heritage

LYNCHBURG — Stuarts Draft’s baseball team wasted no time in making itself at home in the Hill City during its first round Region III tournament game at Heritage.
The Cougars pounded the Pioneers (16-7) for 10 hits, including two homers and nine runs in the first two innings, advancing to today’s 5 p.m. quarterfinal game at Alleghany with a 12-7 victory.
“Really, I didn’t know anything about them but it didn’t take us long to find out,” Heritage coach Paul Johnson said. “It really says something about the kind of ball they play up there.”
Stuarts Draft scored four runs on six hits in the first inning.
All four runs crossed the plate after the second out was recorded as the Cougars strung together five two-out hits.
However, the third of those two-out hits should have ended the inning and limited the damage to two runs.
Neither the Pioneers’ centerfielder Jarith Davis nor shortstop Allen Seufert took charge of Cole Beyeler’s shallow fly ball and both watched as it fell between them.
Stuarts Draft added five more runs in the top of the second, though they didn’t need nearly as many hits this time.
The Cougars got an RBI single by Seth Via, a two-run homer by Matt Via and a solo blast by Ricky Dimitt. The fourth run scored on an error.
Heritage finally showed some signs of life in the bottom of the second, scoring on RBI singles by Jon Dansby and Davis.
But, the Pioneers gave the runs right back in the fourth by allowing three unearned runs.
Zac Marion led off the inning with a slow roller to Pioneer third baseman Chris Ellis.
Ellis fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw on the run one-hopped the first baseman and went up the line into right field, allowing Marion to reach third.
Marion scored on a Seth Via sacrifice fly. Beyeler drew a walk and after Matt Via struck out, Dimitt hit his second homer of the game.
Dimitt was 3-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored.
Though only three runs were officially unearned, the Pioneers gave away five runs in the game.
“With the way they were swinging the bats, we couldn’t afford to give them anything,” Johnson said.
Heritage did score five runs in the last three innings, but it was too little, too late.
“Once we got down, it was just too much of an uphill battle,” Johnson said.
Carter was 3-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Pioneers.
James Womack worked three perfect innings in relief, striking out six batters. Chewning was 2-for-3 with walk, a double and a run.
Though disappointed with the loss, Johnson was pleased with the season.
“It hurts right now [but] it was a good season,” he said. “We’ve got a good core group coming back and we’ll build on this for next year.”
Chris Humphreys is a staff writer for the Lynchburg News & Advance.