6A North Regional Championship

McLean at Chantilly, 7:00

McLean’s improbable run through the postseason continued Wednesday night with an upset win at James Madison in a rain-shortened contest. The Highlanders started the season on a hot streak and have the distinction of being the only team to beat Stone Bridge High School this year. Early May was not kind to McLean, but they have rallied and persevered through the playoffs, having to win two games just to make the Regional as a four seed and then going on the road three games in a row against heavy favorites Oakton, Battlefield, and Madison to advance to this point. McLean has been led on their surge by senior pitcher Joey Sullivan (Virginia Tech) and junior catcher Caleb Beatty. Sullivan has been spectacular, shutting out Oakton 1-0 and holding a powerful Madison team to 1 run in 6 innings.

Chantilly has completely shut down their opponents lately, allowing 1 run total in their three Regional tournament wins. Senior Eason Recto (Cornell) has been especially dominant down the stretch, with complete game victories over Washington-Lee and West Springfield. Recto and the core of this Charger team have been on deep playoff runs before, having been part of the Chantilly American Little League team that was one win away from going to the Little League World Series in 2009. That core, combined with new blood such as sophomore Jared DiCesare, who hit his second home run of the playoffs Wednesday, make Chantilly a dangerous team going forward.

6A South Regional Championship

Cosby at Western Branch, 6:30

Cosby continued its undefeated season Wednesday afternoon by defeating a veteran C.D. Hylton club and ended Hylton’s streak of consecutive State Tournament appearances at two. The Titans pounded out 14 hits in the game, including four by senior catcher Jason Ciucci. The win clinches Cosby’s fourth state tournament appearance in the last eight years, and they stand a strong chance of bringing home the crown with their balanced offense and senior lefty Hunter Williams (UNC).

Western Branch locked up its State Tournament trip with a hard-fought shutout of Granby on Wednesday. Junior Colin Selby went the distance and pitched out of trouble numerous times, leaving the bases loaded twice. Senior catcher Devon Fisher (UVA) drove in four runs, including a double in the seventh that sealed the game.