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Varsity Baseball: Fairfax 8, Centreville 6

Rebels Shine on Senior Night and Defeat Wildcats in Regular-Season Finale

Published: 05/07/2008

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By Sam Dowell
Fairfax High Senior, DigitalSports Intern


After being honored during the a pre-game ceremony, the seniors on Fairfax's baseball team entertained the crowd with a pair of home runs and all eight of the Rebels RBIs in what proved a festive, 8-6 victory for the home team.

"Tonight it was Senior Night," Fairfax Coach Kevin Simonds said. "Parents were here, fans were here, it was relaxed ... a great night for baseball and it really showed in our swings."

And the Rebels were swinging all game. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Fairfax starting pitcher Lee Strutzel hit a bomb that cleared the left field wall to put the Rebels ahead, 5-2.

"I just got a hold of one and it went out," Strutzel said.

And Fairfax wasn't finished yet. Senior catcher Tyler Love hit an RBI single that brought fellow senior Tommy Prioletti home, and then third baseman Chris Cavalieri stepped up to the plate. Cavalieri imitated Strutzel and sent a fastball flying over the left field wall for another home run, this one a two-run shot.

"I saw the pitch and just took it," Cavalieri said.

Added Simonds: "We always say you have to be relaxed. When you are relaxed you are confident. When you are confident you execute. Good things happen to those who sit back and are patient."

The Rebels didn't just execute hits on offense, but also strategically executed a rundown in which Prioletti purposely stranded himself between first and second base. While Prioletti occupied the defense, David Schenaker sneaked home and scored a run.

At the end of four innings of play, the score was 8-2 in favor of the Rebels, but the Wildcats stayed resilient. Led by Chris Campbell and Will Fuka, Centreville countered with four unanswered run in the final three innings, but it wasn't enough to overtake the Rebels, who will head into the Concorde District tournament with momentum on their side.

"I think we can really pull it off and do some damage," Strutzel said of the upcoming playoffs. "We're going to be a Cinderella story."


Centreville    002  011  2 -- 6
Fairfax          022  400  X -- 8


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