The Loudoun County High School baseball team picked up a win Tuesday night against the Park View Patriots. After having last week off due to spring break, the Raiders showed they were well rested and prepared for their match up. The team put together a strong offensive performance along with quality pitching, scoring eight runs while holding Park View to four.
Starting pitcher Ryan Wigfield commanded the mound for the Raiders. He took a no hitter into the fifth inning, and afterwards gave up only three runs in his outing. Wigfield retired twelve Patriot hitters to start the game, with four consecutive three up-three down innings.
The Raiders jumped on the opportunity to score early, putting together a quality first inning. The top of the lineup began by drawing a walk, a single, then a sacrifice fly by third baseman Tyler Saleck. They scored one more run in the third taking an early 2-0 lead. Loudoun County’s bats really awakened in the bottom of the fourth, with a solo home run (Carlyon), two singles (Cokeley,Veschi), and a double (Fischer) combining for three more runs. Park View made a pitching change in the fourth inning and halted the offensive tear by the Raiders.
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Loudoun’s Wigfield gave up his first hit of the night to Park View’s clean up batter, Jeffries, who led off the fifth with a double. The next batter lined a single into the outfield, placing runners at first and third. But a quick inning ending double play erased the chance for Park View to score.
The Raiders added a solo home run over the left field wall by Slack in the fifth to take the score to 6-0.
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The Patriots’ bats finally came to life in the top of the sixth. Loudoun gave up two walks before giving up a double that knocked in the first Patriot run of the game. Wigfield gave up two more runs on a hard hit RBI single and then was replaced with left-handed reliever, Phillips. Ryan Wigfield said afterwards, “I started strong and felt pretty fluent. Throughout the game, my arm felt weaker and then I gave up a few runs.”
Loudoun County allowed just one more run in the inning, escaping the damage still in the lead 6-4.
A two-run homer by the Raiders’ Pratt gave the team a more comfortable lead heading into the final inning.
Park View could not manage another rally in the seventh, as the Raiders hung on to win the game by a final of 8-4.
Head coach of the Raiders, Tom Lucero, said “Every game from here on out is a must win. It’s a must win versus Freedom.”
The Raiders look to pick another “must win” as they travel to Freedom High on Wednesday.
