Haymarket Takes Opener

Haymarket 6, Front Royal 5 (Haymarket leads 1-0)

Host Haymarket opened up its semi-final round series with Front Royal Sunday evening with a 6-5 victory over the Cardinals at Battlefield H.S.

The Senators, who scored the first four runs of the game, can now clinch a spot in the championship series with a Monday victory at Front Royal.

After Jimmy Vahalik drove in the opening run of the game to score Jimmy Dowdell, Brant Jones really opened up matters for Haymarket with a two-run double in the third.

The Cardinals, who outhit their hosts 9-8, got back into it on a Sean Jamieson solo HR in the fifth before scoring two more times in the seventh.

Unfortunately for Front Royal, the Senators matched the Cards with two runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh to provide enough cushion to secure the victory.

Eric Stamets joined Jones with two RBI for the victors.

AJ Albee was 3 for 5 with two RBI for the Cards while Andy Drexel had two RBI and Greg Van Sickler two hits.

Bob Van Woert struck out seven in 6 2/3 to earn the victory.

Luray 10, Winchester 4 (Series tied 1-1)

Visiting Luray picked itself up off the mat and downed Winchester 10-4 Sunday night at Bridgeforth Field.

The two teams will play a winner-takes-all contest Monday night at 7:30 in Luray for one of the two berths in the Lineweaver Cup championship series.

The Wranglers blasted three home runs in the win, including an eighth inning grand slam from All Valley League catcher Nick Rickles. David Vallasuso added a two-run shot and Mark Jones hit his first of the season with a solo dinger in the fourth.

Steve Sabins and Matt Faiman each had two hits in a losing cause for the Royals.

Drew Rusinski went seven innings for his sixth win of the season.