PREP BASEBALL: Wilson splits with Bulldogs

FISHERSVILLE — Wilson Memorial and Luray both went into Tuesday evening’s double header with a chance to force a one-game playoff with Buffalo Gap for Shenandoah regular-season title.

But with their split, Buffalo Gap secured the crown.

The Bulldogs rallied from a two run deficit to defeat the Hornets 6-3 in the first game, but the Hornets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and never looked back, winning 4-2, splitting the double header.

DJ Curry got the Hornets on the board first with a solo home run. It was his eight of the season, breaking a school record.

“DJ [Curry] has had a great season. He does a lot for this team and some of the stats he has put up over the course of a 20 game season is remarkable,” said Wilson coach Derek McDaniel.

Bryce Curd added another RBI in the first, plating Alex Sauer for the 2-0 lead. The Hornets would struggle offensively from there, as Luray pitcher Chris Bell settled down, retiring the Hornets with ease.

Bell went the distance for Luray pitching five innings, and striking out four Hornets on his way to his sixth win of the season. Bell helped the Bulldogs at the plate, going 3-3 with two RBI’s and a homerun as the Bulldogs took the win in game one.

“Chris [Bell] is our number one pitcher. I though he gave us the best chance to win so I went with him in the first game. He did a great job of staying focused after they got some runs early,” Luray head coach Steve Griffith said. “He kept us in the game with his hitting and his pitching. I couldn’t have asked for more from him.

In the second game Wilson sent Aaron Coffey to the mound. The Bulldogs went three up and three down in the first inning and Coffey kept the Bulldogs off the board for the first three innings.

Bell took the mound for the Bulldogs (12-6, 5-4 Shenandoah) again in the second game and Wilson (9-11, 6-4 Shenandoah) once again was able to get to him early.

Weston Cash came around to score in the first, giving the Hornets an early 1-0 lead. In the third inning a couple of errors by the Bulldogs allowed Curry to come around to score, and Gage Statons’ RBI single brought Alex Sauer all the way around.

“The kids were obviously disappointed after losing the first game, but their was still reason to play,” McDaniel said. “ I thought Aaron [Coffey] pitched a good second ball game for us. We were able to string together some hits and our guys capitalized and brought them home.”

Coffey got himself into a jam in the bottom half of the fourth. With two outs Luray’s’ Joe Caviness doubled home Willy Logan. The next batter Johnny Van Wyek doubled bringing home Logan, cutting the Wilson lead in half, but Coffey held strong, retiring the next four batters for the victory.

“I was just trying to stay focused. I mean this is my senior year and with tonight being senior night I knew I had to come out and give us the best chance to win,” Coffey said. “Even though I knew the district title was out of reach I wanted to still give everything I had.”