by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond
scontomanolis@digitalsports.com
CHANTILLY – Austin Stadler proved again why he was named the Central Region player of the year.
Stadler hit a walk-off solo home run in the eighth inning to propel James River past Bethel 2-1 in the semifinals of the state Group AAA tournament on Friday.
“I didn’t think it had a chance of going out when it hit the bat,” Stadler said. “But it is one of those things with metal bats, the ball just keeps on rising. It’s a good feeling when it goes out.”
The Rapids (20-5) are the defending state champions and will look to repeat against Colonial Forge on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Westfield High School.
Eamon Schwartz singled to begin the eighth against Bethel pitcher Jack Maxey but was picked off first by Justin Shively, who relieved Maxey with Stadler coming to the plate.
After taking a ball the Wake Forest-bound senior hit a deep drive to right that went over the fence but foul. Stadler then crushed the next offering to deep center field and the ball easily cleared the tall outfield fence to end the contest.
“It gives you chills when you are running around the bases, it’s why I keep playing the game,” Stadler said. “I love to be at bat in those situations. I am happy for this team, we picked each other up and that’s been our motto all year, ‘Pick each other up.'”
He also earned the win after coming on in relief for Daniel Marrs, who pitched seven impressive innings giving up only two hits and one run.
Stadler had the Rapids’ only other RBI when he hit a double in the fifth inning to drive in Schwartz from first base to tie the game.
“I can’t say enough about him,” James River coach Pete Schumacher said. “I love him as a baseball player and as a kid. He is a special player. He’s clutch and he proved that here.”
Through seven innings both teams could only manage one run each as Marrs dominated for the Rapids and the sophomore Maxey maneuvered out of trouble for the Bruins (21-6).
Marrs, also headed to Wake Forest, did not allow a hit through the first three innings. He only struck out four but was able to induce easy grounders and fly balls for his defense which made no errors.
“He did great,” Schumacher said. “He had a lot of poise out there. He just really wanted it today.”
Bethel pushed their only run across in the fifth as Marrs hit back-to-back batters and Shively drove Jessee Wyatt in with a single.
James River had base runners in the early innings but double plays in the first and third innings, and a ground out with two outs and the bases loaded in the second, allowed Maxey to hang around for a while.
Stadler finished 3 for 4 and Schwartz was 2 for 4 but reached base all four at-bats on two errors.
Bethel 000 010 00 – 1 2 2
James River 000 010 01 – 2 8 0
Maxey, Shively (8) and Wyatt; Marrs, Stadler (8) and Cleary. W: Stadler. L: Shively.
Records: Bethel (21-6); James River (20-5)
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