PREP BASEBALL: Gap wins in the 8th

HARRISONBURG — It took extra innings, but in the biggest game in the Shenandoah District between two bitter rivals, it all seemed fitting as Buffalo Gap took down Riverheads 5-4 in eight innings for the title Thursday night.

Buffalo Gap was led by a pair of polar opposites.

Freshman Hunter Sandridge, with his very calm demeanor, started the game on the mound working out of a bases loaded jam with no one out.

The Gladiators chased Sandridge in the third inning after Brian Wright homered to deep left-center field.

After Adam Ritter doubled, a wild pitch advanced him to third where the throw down went into the outfield, allowing the Gladiators to take a 2-0 lead.

Sandridge’s opposite, senior Nick Corbin, came in to pitch in the fourth inning.

Corbin worked the next three innings without giving up a single hit.

“Hunter gave us some good innings,” said Shenandoah District Coach of the Year Chad Coffey said. “Then Nick came on in the fourth and did the work from there.”

The sixth inning was one of the biggest for Corbin.

After striking out the side and showing a fist pump toward his dugout, you could see the intensity in his eyes. Based on the team reaction, Gap wanted this one more than anything.

“Everybody gets the team pumped up,” Sandridge said. “Somebody gets a key hit or even a foul ball like against Page and we just get up, hit the ball, and get it done.”

Riverheads fought back in the seventh inning, trying to get it done for the Red Pride faithful that had made the long trip up from Greenville.

After Corbin struck out Nick Wolcott, his fifth straight K, Jacob Painter walked.

Cody Montgomery followed the walk with a single, the first hit charged against Corbin in the game.

Pitcher Miles Wade’s crucial double scored Painter and Montgomery to tie the game at four a piece.

“Our kids fought back,” Riverheads coach Rodney Painter said. “We really wanted to win this one for our seniors, but we are still moving on.”

After one more big inning of work by Gap’s senior pitcher, it was time for the “ying” to Corbin’s “yang” to make his presence known in the bottom of the eighth.

T.J. Cupp walked to lead off the inning for Gap against a visibly tired Wade.

A bunt single by Preston Woods advanced Cupp to second.

Ryan Sheridan’s fly out to right put runners on the corners for the freshman.

“Some people thought we would have a special play on,” Coffey stated. “With Hunter batting .500 in the district, I trusted him to swing the bat.”

On a 0-1 pitch, Sandridge laced a ball over the head of left fielder Taylor Yeago, scoring Cupp from second.

When Sandridge ran back to the dugout to celebrate, who was there waiting in his golden uniform and dirty white pants to throw him over his shoulder?

None other than the senior, Nick Corbin.

Buffalo Gap hosts Madison County on Monday at six.

Riverheads travels to Strasburg for a 7 p.m. matchup.