Follow @PBRVirginiaDC
By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

Lynchburg-A mostly cloudless day at Liberty University was the location of the 3A State Semifinals on Friday. In the second semifinal of the day, 3A East runners-up William Monroe took on the 3A West champions, No. 17 Turner Ashby. The Dragons sent senior Cody Spencer to the mound to start the game and the Knights countered with senior Trent Abernathy (Concord).

The first two innings went quickly as neither managed a hit or much of a threat against either pitcher. Both issued a walk in the first, but neither team was able to turn it into anything. For velocities and scouting information on players in this game, check the Virginia/DC Scout Blog next week.

The top of the third started with William Monroe senior leftfielder Toby Collier was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt attempt was misplayed, putting two runners on with no outs for the top of the Dragons’ order. A strikeout and a groundout moved both runners into scoring position with two outs for centerfielder Dylan Shifflet, who singled to right, driving in both runs and giving Monroe a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Spencer allowed a two-out single, but no other damage. Abernathy fired a perfect fourth, striking out the side. In the bottom of the fourth, Turner Ashby looked to have something going after Abernathy reached on an error and Ross Detamore singled to left, putting two on with one out. A line out and a strikeout ended the threat with the score still 2-0, William Monroe.

Both pitchers threw perfect fifth innings as the game quickly moved into the sixth with William Monroe clinging to a 2-0 lead over Turner Ashby.

In the top of the sixth, William Monroe got things going as first baseman R.J. Payne singled to right and Shifflett was hit with a pitch. After Hunter Forster dropped a beautiful bunt that went for a base hit, the bases were loaded with no outs and the Dragons were threatening to put the game away. With the infield in, Charlie Richards chopped a ball that looked like it was going to scoot through for a hit, but second baseman Tanner Moyers made a great play to snag it and step on second to start a double play. A run did score, and William Monroe extended its lead to 3-0. Abernathy got a strikeout to end the inning without any more damage occurring.

Spencer fired a perfect sixth against the middle of the Knight lineup, ending the inning with a strikeout of Abernathy. William Monroe went quietly in the top of the seventh, bringing Turner Ashby up with one last chance to extend their season. Detamore got on base to start the inning as he was hit by a pitch. A nifty 3-6-1 double play essentially ended the threat and Spencer got the final out of the game with a called strike three. William Monroe advances to Saturday’s 3A State Championship game to take on Rustburg. 

For Turner Ashby, Abernathy took the loss with a CG, 7 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 K. Moyers was 1-2 with a BB. Detamore was 1-1 with a HBP.

For William Monroe, Spencer earned the win with a CG shutout, 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K. Shifflett went 1-2 with 2 RBIs. Forster was 1-3. Tyler Trevillian was 1-3 with a run. Payne was 1-3 with a run.