BY ANTHONY STEVENS
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
BRISTOL, Va. – Clear some more space in the trophy case at Virginia High School. The Bearcats won the Clinch Mountain District tournament championship with an 8-5 victory over Lebanon at Belle Meadows Park. Fallon Thomas had the crucial hit in the sixth inning for Virginia High, driving in what turned out to be the winning run.
“I just knew I had to put it in play,” said Thomas. “It was an inside pitch and I just went with it. I was just glad to get the runners in.”
Lebanon kept battling the entire game. Thomas singled and scored in the first on a hit by Brittany Crusenberry. The Bearcats then went up 2-0 in the second when Crystal Bullock doubled and scored on a triple by Lorren Denton. But the Pioneers tied it in the third. After a Katie Smith triple, Jessica Tate had a run scoring double and Lori Witt added another run with a triple.
“There were some things in the game I wasn’t happy with,” Virginia High coach Barry Reed said. “It seemed like we got ahead and just sit back and cruised. Lebanon had a lot of fight in them.”
The Bearcats went up by three in the fifth. Aubrey Hutt, Julia Legard and Crusenberry each drove in a run. But Lebanon tied it the next inning. Tate, Witt and Samantha Trail each drove in a run for the Pioneers to tie the game 5-5. But with runners at second and third, Virginia High (18-2) pitcher Lannie Johnston retired the next two hitters on a strikeout and a ground out, without allowing another run.
“That was the critical point in the game,” commented Reed. “They had already scored three runs and were in position to score two more. If Lebanon would have scored again it would have been tough to catch them.”
When the Bearcats came to bat in the sixth the first two batters were erased by Lebanon pitcher Jessica Tate. But with two outs a walk to Johnston started a rally. Denton followed with her second hit of the game, a single to put runners at first and third. Both scored on the double scorched to left-center by Thomas.
“It was a huge walk, and then Denton is getting better and better each game she plays,” Reed said. “Then Thomas nailed one. Our girls answered the challenge.
“I’m very happy for our seniors, this is four district regular season and tournament titles for them.”
Lebanon (16-4) has only lost four games this year, but three have been to the Bearcats.
“Virginia High just got the clutch hitting when they needed it,” said Lebanon coach Shelia Adams. “Each time we’ve faced them, we’ve played them a little better. I can’t take anything away from Tate she pitched a wonderful game for me. If we play like this I think we’ll be all right at the regional.”
Both teams will play again on Tuesday in the Region D tournament. Virginia High will host Castlewood while Lebanon will travel to Coeburn.
Lebanon 000 203 0–5 7 2
Virginia High 110 033 x–8 8 0
Tate and A. Smith. Johnston and Thomas. W—Johnston (13-2). L—Tate (13-3). HR—none. JV championship—Virginia High 3, Lee High 1.
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