MC baseball sinks Strasburg

Madison County High School’s baseball team was scheduled to host the Strasburg Rams on Tuesday, May 5. However, the game was washed out due to rain. Madison’s scheduled trip to Manassas Park on May 8 was also rained out. With all of the wet weather, the Mountaineers have been forced to play their final three Bull Run District games on consecutive days; hosting Strasburg on Monday May 11 and George Mason on Tuesday May 12, while traveling to Manassas Park on Wednesday May 13. Also, the quarter-finals of the Bull Run District tournament are scheduled for this Friday, May 15.

Despite yet another bout of wet weather, Madison and Strasburg were able to get their game in Monday evening. Standing at 4-3 in the district, a win over the first place Rams would go a long way in the Mountaineers pursuit of a district title.

Madison came away from the rain soaked affair with a decisive 8-2 victory. Brandon Rutherford pitched a gem, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out nine Rams on the night. The Mountaineer offense scored twice in the third inning on back-to-back doubles by Travis Warren and Matt Racer, a base on balls by Evan Tucker and a sacrifice fly by Dylan Shifflette.
Leading 2-0 and a steady rain falling, Madison put the game away in the fifth. Collin Tucker walked to start the inning. He moved to second on a sac bunt by Warren. That is when the wheels fell off for the Rams. Racer hit a high fly ball to left, which was misplayed by the leftfielder. Evan Tucker followed with a double, plating two runs. The Strasburg centerfielder then dropped a Shifflette fly ball. Will Taylor and Kyle Louk followed that Ram miscue with singles, scoring three more runs. Jacob Houser finished the MCHS scoring onslaught with a double off the centerfield fence, plating Louk.

Leading 8-0, Strasburg was able to score single runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the final margin of 8-2. The win moved the Mountaineers to 5-3 in the Bull Run. The Mounties hosted George Mason on Tuesday night but the results were unavailable at press time.