PULASKI, Va. – Abingdon’s Justin Malone should have been exhausted Thursday evening.
After battling injuries and anxiety, the senior right-hander had just authored his first complete game of the season. But instead of seeking comfort, Malone was eager for more action.
“I feel great. In fact, I’ve still got a couple innings left in me,” Malone said.
Malone stuck out six en route to a three-hitter as the Falcons stopped Blacksburg by an 11-2 margin in the Region IV baseball semifinals at Calfee Park.
That effort helped ease the sting of the arm and abdominal pain which have haunted Malone this spring.
“I came back slow and threw my first game late in the season, then hurt my arm after four innings,” said Malone, who has signed to play at powerful Walters State Community College. “It was tough having to wait through all that. I was actually sick the first couple games because I couldn’t play.”
The Falcons (18-7) ended the drama early Thursday, opening a 7-1 lead after two innings. AHS finished with 11 hits against four pitchers and was helped by the crisp defense of shortstop Matt Rasnake and first baseman Brandon Ketron.
“This was a great team effort,” Malone said. “We had a good scouting report on Blacksburg, and getting those early runs was a big confidence boost.”
Malone helped himself by driving in two runs with a pair of doubles and a single. Nathan Hagy drove in three runs on three hits, while Casey Payne drove in two runs and Rasnake added a two-run double.
“We basically set on fastballs,” Malone said.
Meanwhile, AHS coach Mark Francisco was delighted.
“Justin gave one heck of an effort after being injured all year,’ Francisco said. “Blacksburg is a great-hitting club. Justin is a tough kid with a future in baseball, and we needed him to step up like this.
“We had a lot of kids play well. To get 11 hits against a team of this caliber would make any coach proud.”
Blacksburg coach Jim Shockley paid credit to Abingdon’s little right-hander.
“He had good location and we chased some pitches. We just weren’t as solid at the plate as we normally are,” Shockley said. “I wish I could explain why.”
The Bruins collected three homers and nine runs en route to a first round regional win over Carroll County.
“Abingdon was definitely the better team today,” Shockley said. “They hit it, pitched it and caught it.”
Blacksburg (17-8) was playing its fifth game in seven days, but Shockley wasn’t interested in excuses.
“We had our pitching lined up,” Shockley said. “Abingdon just got the best of us.”
Blacksburg 100 001 0–2 3 2
Abingdon 250 130 x–11 11 3
Perkovich, Sowers (2), Gresh (4), Ball (5) and Jaunarena. Malone and Payne. W – Malone (3-1). L– Perkovich (7-2). HR – Manthe (B) 6th, none on.
agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 669-2544.
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