3A State Championship Preview:

These games will be played at Liberty University in Lynchburg on Friday, June 13 with the winners meeting in the Championship game at Liberty on Saturday, June 14, at 10:00 am.

William Byrd vs. Loudoun Valley, 12:00 noon

William Byrd has had an amazing two weeks, surging from below .500 to win the Conference 31 tournament as a four seed with upsets over Staunton River and Northside. In the Regional tournament, they rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat Turner Ashby and advance to the title game where the Terriers fell in a tight game to Tunstall.

Loudoun Valley was the Dulles District champion, playing against 4A competition all season. The Vikings also won the Conference 28 tournament and have defeated Culpeper, New Kent, and Poquoson to win the Eastern Region. Loudoun Valley brings a 24-3 record into the State Tournament.

Poquoson vs. Tunstall, 6:00 pm

Poquoson is the Conference 25 champion and the Eastern Regional runner-up, having lost the title game to Loudoun Valley after wins over Thomas Jefferson and Kettle Run. The Islanders are very experienced late in the postseason and are led by shortstop Chase Pinder (Clemson) and have been a state title contender all season.

Tunstall is the Conference 30 champion and defeated Northside, Blacksburg, and William Byrd on their way to winning the Western Region. Tunstall returns to the State Tournament and was last year’s AA State Runner-up. The Trojans are 25-3 entering the State Tournament.