Patriots clinch Group AAA berth

By Bart Isley

Published: May 29, 2008

Albemarle coach Carroll Bickers claimed before Wednesday’s game against Potomac that the Patriots were going to stick pitcher Jason White on the mound and “battle.”

White did a lot more than battle — the sophomore right-hander dominated.

White worked efficiently through the Potomac lineup, throwing just 76 pitches in a complete-game effort. The sophomore allowed just four hits and didn’t surrender a single walk while striking out six. The performance led the Patriots to an 11-0 romp over Potomac in the Northwest Region semifinals.

“This kid is a stud,” Albemarle second baseman Robbie Taylor said of White. “We’ll ride him all the way to states.”

The Patriots (18-6) have already done just that. Playing in the region final guarantees Albemarle a spot in next week’s Group AAA tournament.

After surrendering a double and a pair of singles in the first two innings, White went on cruise control for four straight frames, retiring the side in the third through the sixth. He didn’t allow another baserunner until a harmless single in the seventh.

“I just got pumped up and the game came to me,” White said. “I fed off [the offense’s] energy.”

White had the benefit of a big cushion created by a nine-run third inning by the Patriots. Taylor set the table all night for Albemarle’s Vince Coles, who went 3 for 4 at the plate. Coles ripped an RBI single in the first off of Potomac’s Ryan Moriarty, a two-run double in the third and a solo home run to centerfield in the bottom of the sixth.

A deep shot to centerfield by Coles on his second at-bat in the third inning tailed away from Potomac’s Tyler Covington and ricocheted off the outfielder’s glove. When it fell to the ground, Cody Lewis, who’d reached on a single, took off with Taylor right on his heels. The rounded almost together and the crossed the plate to beat out the relay throw and put Albemarle up 10-0.

“I was fortunate enough to have some hits fall in that weren’t hit real hard,” Taylor said. “This is a dream. We’re just out here proving people wrong.”

Taylor had a two-run single just before Coles’ shot to center. Albemarle’s Rashad Talley also contributed to the onslaught in the third with a two-RBI double while Josh Smith connected on an RBI single.

Potomac (18-7) struggled defensively, with an error and even more miscommunications that resulted in bloop hits that probably shouldn’t have fallen for Albemarle.

“We have games like this every now and then and I don’t know why,” said Potomac coach Mike Covington. “You’ll see us one day and say, dang, that team’s outstanding and then you’ll see us on days like today and you’re like how the heck did they even get here. That’s why I come to the ballpark worried everyday, because I don’t know which one of our teams is going to show up.”

Covington tried to slow down the Patriots with a pitching change during Albemarle’s monster third, but junior Tyler Vieira and his unorthodox delivery couldn’t find a hole in Albemarle’s lineup either.

“It was hard to pick up, but we’re in there battling and doing everything we can to hit the strikes,” Taylor said.

Albemarle will take on Forest Park in the region final Friday. The Bruins beat Commonwealth District champion Colonial Forge 6-4 Wednesday night.