5A North Semifinal Match-ups

Marshall at Stonebridge, 6:00

Marshall enters the game on a 13 game winning streak and 15-6 overall. The Statesmen are the Conference 13 champions and defeated Patrick Henry on Monday to advance to the semifinals. Pitching and defense have keyed the Statesmen streak as they have held opponents to 1 run or fewer 8 times during their run. Junior catcher Mitch Blackstone and senior pitcher Riley Cummins are key players for Marshall.

Stonebridge enters the game 21-1 and having not lost since March. Unfortunately, Stonebridge did lose its most dangerous weapon, Gatorade State Player of the Year JB Bukauskas (UNC) for the remainder of the playoffs. The Bulldogs defeated Freedom-South Riding to win the Conference 14 championship and got by North Stafford on Monday to put them in position to advance to the state tournament. 

Freedom-South Riding at Halifax County, 6:00

Freedom was the Conference 14 runner-up, having run into streaking Stonebridge in the title game. That did not stop the Eagles from defeating Lee last Friday and upsetting Potomac on Monday to advance to the semifinals. The Eagles are 12-12 overall, but have gone 7-3 down the stretch and have recent experience with playoff runs, having gone to the AAA State Quarterfinals in 2012.

Halifax is the Conference 16 champion and defeated Edison on Monday to advance to the semifinals. Comets junior lefty Colby Grissom and closer Chase Wilkerson combined to toss a 1 hitter and Will Harris hit a home run in the first inning to lead Halifax in the win.