Lions ready for tourney pressure

By Liz Keller

Published: May 15, 2008

After rolling through the Jefferson District during the regular season, the Louisa County baseball team looks for continued success as the postseason begins.
The Lions (16-4), who captured their second consecutive regular-season district title, earned a bye in the tournament’s opening round, which begins today. Louisa also secured a spot in the Region II tournament.
“We’re very fortunate,” said Louisa County first-year coach Kevin Fisher. “We’re happy to host and win the district title this year.”
Fluvanna County ended Louisa’s chances for an unbeaten district season with a 3-1 win over the Lions on Tuesday.
“I’m never happy with a loss, but the timing of it is better happening now than in the district tournament or region,” Fisher said.
The Flucos secured the No. 3 seed in the tournament and will host William Monroe today. Western Albemarle earned the No. 2 seed and entertains Charlottesville, and No. 5 Monticello will play at No. 4 Orange County.
Louisa plays the winner of the Orange-Monticello game in the semifinals on May 20. In its final regular-season game, the Lions edged the Hornets 4-3.
“The tournament is wide open,” Fisher said. “Anyone is capable of beating anyone on any given night.”
Louisa hosts the semifinal and final rounds of the tournament and will play in the quarterfinals of the region tournament on May 26.
Fisher hopes his pitching staff will continue to carry the young Louisa team.
“We’ve done a good job with the bats all season, and pitching and timely hits have carried us this year,” Fisher said. “Gunnar Carroll, Josh Vipperman and Tyler Brookman have all done a great job pitching for us. We are excited to be able to get to the postseason and we want to represent the Jefferson District well.”