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Class 4 Quick Hits: Salem at James Wood

June 8, 2022
John Nolan
VA/DC Managing Editor, NOVA Scouting Coordinator

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Tuesday night saw James Wood return to the State Tournament for the first time since 1985. The Colonels were hosting Salem in the State Quarterfinals and a monster crowd turned out on what began an as overcast evening and pretty quickly turned into a nice night for baseball. Salem started senior ace Trent Judd (Lynchburg) and James Wood started junior righty Nick Bell.

Both pitchers blew through the first 2 innings without allowing any damage. Salem was first on the board, taking advantage of a leadoff walk in the third and scoring the game's first run on a Trace Monroe RBI single after a sacrifice bunt. James Wood answered in the bottom of the inning when John Copenhaver led off with a single. Courtesy runner Michael Jackson stole second and was bunted to third, where Brodie Pullen (Shepherd) drove him in with a sacrifice fly. 

The Colonels took the lead in the fourth when Brody Bowers (Eastern) led off with a triple into the rightfield corner and scored on a sacrifice fly. They would put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth when Bowers again led off with a double and was quickly driven in by a Colin McGuire RBI double into the corner. James Wood added two more runs in the inning and took a 5-1 lead into the seventh. McGuire fired a perfect inning and finished off a four-out save, and giving the Colonels the victory. 

Bowers finished the game going 2-3 with a 2B and a 3B. McGuire was 1-2 with 2 RBI and 1.1 perfect IP to get the save. Bell went 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 K, 5 BB. Monroe was 1-2 with a BB and an RBI for Salem. James Wood will advance to Friday's semifinals which will be played at Riverbend High School. They will face Monacan, the game time has yet to be determined.