PREP BASEBALL: Page knocks out Wilson

FISHERSVILLE — On Tuesday, Wilson Memorial had a chance to win the Shenandoah District outright. On Friday, the Green Hornets were turning in their jerseys.

The No. 4 seeded Green Hornets fell 14-1 to No. 5 Page County in the Shenandoah District tournament, ending a rollercoaster season.

“Bottom line, we just didn’t get it done,” Wilson coach Derek McDaniel said. “Page just outplayed us today and that happens.”

Last week, Wilson controlled first place in the district, but after splitting a doubleheader with Luray and a loss to Buffalo Gap, it was forced to play for the final Region B seed. On Friday, Page County, who also had an up-and-down season, ended the Green Hornets’ turn around.

“We started horrible,” McDaniel said. “We were not a good baseball team when we started. We were young, but inexperienced more than anything. We were just making mistakes that inexperienced teams make.”

Friday’s loss also ended Wilson’s time in the Shenandoah District. Next season, the Green Hornets will move up to Group AA and join the Southern Valley District. With most of his team returning for another season, McDaniel said that he thinks the Green Hornets will use the 2009 season as a jumping off point.

“I know a little about the district,” McDaniel said. “We are going to have to find some pitching. We have to play this summer and get in the weight room. We are going to compete and we are going to be getting after it.”

Wilson’s troubles began early on Friday with the Panthers taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning when designated hitter Jared Thomas pulled a ball over the left-field fence for a two-run homer.

Page pitcher Allen Cloude kept the Green Hornets from gaining any ground, going the distance while striking out nine.

The Panthers added another run in the top of the third when Kenny Deavers crossed the plate on the first of three Wilson errors. Trailing 3-0, Wilson scored its lone run in the bottom of the inning after Weston Cash doubled and scored on a Ryan Fitzgerald double.

The game stayed close until Page scored three runs in the fifth inning and added another six in the sixth.

“It was a tight game for a few innings, then we made some mistakes,” McDaniel said. “They had that inning and their bats came alive and that buried us.”

Wilson cycled through five pitchers in the game. Wally Andres took the loss, pitching four and two-thirds innings. Andres gave up five hits in the losing effort.

Page County now will have to face hot-hitting Buffalo Gap on Tuesday in the Shenandoah District semifinals. The Bison entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and have already locked up a Region B berth.

Last season, the Bison lost the Shenandoah regular season title in the final two games and later were knocked out of the tournament in the semifinals by Wilson. Page coach Jim Burke said that he thinks his team will fare well against the Bison on Tuesday.

“We were 8-4, then we went into a skid and that was our thing,” he said. “At the end of the year everyone is 0-0. Gap is hot right now and hitting, but I think we can cut them off and produce some offense.”

Wilson finished the season with a 9-12 record.

The Shenandoah District Tournament will move to Harrisonburg High School on Tuesday with Buffalo Gap taking on Page at 4:30 p.m. Riverheads, who defeated Stonewall 15-4 in the other quarterfinal, will take on No. 2 Luray in the nightcap at 7 p.m.