Louisa Co. knocks off James Wood

By Bart Isley

Published: May 27, 2008

MINERAL — Louisa County senior Tyler Brookman probably threw one of the most stressful one-hit, six-inning efforts ever Monday night.
Brookman escaped three different innings by inducing double plays by James Wood, including a critical 1-2-3 double play that ended a bases-loaded jam in the third inning. Louisa also snuffed out scoring opportunities for the Colonels in the first and fourth innings with double plays.
In the process, Brookman helped lift the Lions to a 5-0 victory over James Wood in the Region II quarterfinals.
“Getting out of those jams was just phenomenal,” Brookman said. “If I hadn’t gotten out of any of those it probably would’ve been a close ball game.”
Now the Lions will face Broad Run in Ashburn in the Region II semifinals, a team that’s posted a 20-3 record and picked up a bye through the quarterfinals.
Brookman struck out five, but he managed to walk eight, which is the reason the Colonels seemed to have runners on the bases all night despite struggling at the plate. Each time James Wood threatened though, Brookman leaned on a seasoned defensive unit to allow him to escape.
“They made a nice play and that’s baseball,” said James Wood coach Jared Mounts. “Those things happen and it never helps you — a double play is a pitcher’s best friend.”
Only Danny Cooper managed to connect for James Wood. Cooper had a single in the first and another in the top of the seventh off Peter Culver, who took over for Brookman after the sixth.
Brookman, who struck out James Wood pinch-hitter Will Price to escape his final jam in the top of the sixth, also got the job done in the batter’s box. He went 3 for 3 with three RBI, including an RBI double that put Louisa up 1-0 in the first. By the end of the opening frame, Louisa led 3-0 with Kenny Fleming and Reggie Shelton knocking in a run each.
“I’ve been working all year on going opposite field and the lefty [Josh Dick] started working me outside,” Brookman said. “So I just started hitting the ball where it was pitched.”
Brookman was so solid at the plate that the Colonels walked the No. 2 hitter in the bottom of the sixth to get to Texas Tech-signee and No. 3 hitter Fleming, who struggled after his RBI single in the first.
Kurt Fleming, the Lions’ sophomore leadoff hitter, had a single and a double in the first and second inning, scoring on both occasions after Brookman hits. Shelton also had a nice night at the plate with an RBI groundout in the first and a double to right center in the third. Miles Rucker also managed a pair of singles, scoring on Brookman’s hit in the fourth.
Dick threw all seven innings for the Colonels and struck out seven. The senior left-hander settled down after a rough first frame where he surrendered four-straight hits to start the game.
Louisa will travel to Broad Run for a 7 p.m. region semifinal on Wednesday.