PREP ROUNDUP: Patriots dispatch Comets

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: May 27, 2008

In South Boston, Albemarle got at least one hit from everyone in the lineup and rallied from a five-run deficit in the final inning to knock off Halifax 12-10 and move on to the Northwest Region semifinals on Wednesday.
Trailing 10-5 in the seventh, the Patriots scored seven runs on five hits, highlighted by a bases-clearing three-run triple by senior Andrew Bradley. Adam Utz had an RBI single, Nick Brad-ley drove in two runs, and Cody Lewis drove in another on a fielder’s choice to cut the lead to one and set Andrew Bradley up for the go-ahead three-bagger.
Facing five batters, Albemarle senior Jake Hochstetler got the win on the mound as he kept the Patriots within strik-ing distance in the sixth and struck out the final two Comets batters in the seventh to preserve the comeback win.
“The kids believe in themselves,” Albemarle coach Carroll Bickers said. “Everybody contrib-uted again and Jake Hochstetler came in to pitch us out of a jam like he did at North Stafford. His performance was outstanding, along with all the pitchers. Cody Wilder gave me four great innings and this was a good-hitting ball-team.”
The Patriots (17-6) will face the winner of Potomac and Osbourn Park on Wednesday in the semifinals.

SOFTBALL: Fluvanna County 10, Millbrook 1
In Palmyra, the Flucos rolled past visiting Mill-brook to advance to the Region II semifinals on Wednesday.
Brittany Lewis pitched a complete game, giving up just one run on four hits. The Flucos got help offensively from Jefferson District player of the year Danielle Dike, who went 2 for 3 with four RBI, Brittany Gibson had also had two hits including a triple, and Ariel Stewart went 3 for 4 with a run.
“We talked about put-ting the ball in play and using our team speed and we did that, especially early in the game,” coach Nick Ward said.
Fluvanna (18-6) will travel to Broad Run on Wednesday to face the two-time defending state champions at 7 p.m. Ward knows his team will have their work cut out for them against the powerhouse Spartans.
“We’re going to go out and put the ball in play against them,” said Ward, “and continue to use our speed and see what happens.”
GIRLS SOCCER: Fluvanna County 4, Handley 3
In Palmyra, Fluvanna came back from a 2-1 halftime deficit to defeat Handley and keep its state championship hopes alive.
Juniors Megan Seelye and Sunny Herold each scored twice and head coach Tara Garcia wasn’t even sure if Herold, the school’s all-time leading scorer, would be able to play, as she was under the weather.
“We just asked basi-cally if we could put her in sporadically,” said Garcia. “She probably played a total of about seven minutes and scored two goals, so she did really well for us.”
The two teams were tied at three when Herold, who now has a career total of 65 goals, scored the game-winner.
The Flucos (15-3-1) will travel to Broad Run on Wednesday in the region semifinals.
BOYS SOCCER: Albemarle 1, Patrick Henry 0
In Roanoke, Albemarle got a first half goal from David Alfano off an assist by fellow senior forward Steven Duffy to propel the Patriots to a hard-fought road win and put them in the Northwest Region semifinals.
“Stephen made a real nice connecting pass and David showed a lot of composure and just finished the ball,” said coach Scott Jackson.
Senior goalkeeper Marcus Rondeau came away with 13 crucial saves to help the Patriots blank Patrick Henry.
Albemarle (17-3) will face the winner of Woodbridge and Osbourn Park Wednesday.