HANOVER – Henrico (16-5) returns to the Capital District Tournament championship game following a 3-1 victory over Lee-Davis (13-7). The “Warriors” will meet regular season champion Hanover which came from behind to defeat Atlee 7-3 in the first game of the night.
Hanover, with its regular season title, has already qualified for the Central Region Tournament. So, Henrico becomes the Capital District’s second entry in the regional tourney as a result of making it to the district championship game.
Seth Cutler-Voltz was again the mainstay for Henrico. He pitched a complete game scattering five hits, walking none, and striking out 10 “Confederate” hitters.
The only run he surrendered came in the third inning. With one out, Jordan Walton ripped a double down the right field foul line. He moved to third base on a ball in the dirt. When Andrew Hacker cued a ball off the end of the bat that dribbled up the right side of the infield, Walton scored.
That run only tied the game. Henrico had put up a run in the top of the first by playing small ball against starting Lee-Davis pitcher Jordan Boze. Lead off hitter Adam Toombs was hit by a pitch. Cutler-Voltz laid down a sacrifice bunt moving Toombs to second. Toombs scored on Michael Mansfield’s RBI single to right center.
In the top of the fourth, Henrico got back on top. Mansfield drew a walk. Running for the catcher, Dorsel Robinson stole second base. Paul Bateera singled to put runners on the corners. Robinson scored when Andrew Props hit a ground ball to second that was not handled cleanly.
In the fifth inning, Walton hit his second double of the night. But, he could advance no further.
The sixth was dramatic for both teams. Boze hit a towering pop up along the first base foul line in shallow right. Henrico first baseman Alvin Hence was moving out and second baseman Toombs was cutting across. They collided. But, Hence made the catch. Matt Musser followed with a single. A runner for the catcher was on the move when a curve ball skipped away from Mansfield. The runner tried to stretch it to third. But, Mansfield’s throw was accurate and Props laid down the tag. Cutler-Voltz struck out the next batter.
Henrico added a run in the seventh. With one out, Hence doubled to right-center. Robinson entered as a pinch runner. He scored when Toombs ripped a double down the third base line.
With a 3-1 lead, Cutler-Voltz would not be denied. He coaxed a pop out to right field. Two strike outs followed to clinch the win.
“I kept reminding the kids what happened at our place on April 11 against Lee-Davis,” said Henrico head coach Ken Schrad. Henrico had a 3-0 lead only to let Lee-Davis score four in the seventh to lose the game. “I asked them how they felt after that game and whether they ever wanted to experience that feeling again. The answer was a resounding NO!”
“This is a special group, especially these 10 seniors,” said Schrad. “It is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to coach them a little while longer. They have put Henrico baseball back on the map. They’re not yet ready to put away the green and gold.”