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By Jon Kaufman
Contributor

Radford University- Today's Group 1A Championship Game was a dizzying, exciting contest between Rappahannock and Windsor High Schools. Was it a beautiful a smooth example of our National Pastime? No, but if you like aggressive base running, multiple lead changes, and two top coaches battling for the crown, you came to the right place.

RHP Ray Byrum from Windsor and LHP Brandan Whaley from Rappahannock were tapped to start on the hill, however, neither would stick around very long. Each pitched well in the first two innings, Whaley striking out three and Byrum two.

In the top of third, Byrum walked Austin Douglas, Tyler Hennage, and Romeo Jackson to load the sacks with no outs. A one out walk to Devin Sisson scored Douglas and a wild pitch plated Hennage, providing a two run lead for the Raiders. Kaleb Self's double down the left field line brought Jackson and Sisson across the plate, opening up an early four run lead.

Windsor started the bottom of the frame with a Davis Powell lead-off single, and a Jacob Council single. Hunter Williams laid down a perfect bunt scoring Powell and an error and a balk scored Council and Williams. The second error of the at bat got Cory Childress home and the second balk of the inning plated Catcher Trevor Kiser, making the score 5-4 in favor of the Windsor Duke's.

Derek Wiseman took over the pitching work for the Raiders at the end of the third, and shut down the Duke's in the fourth with two strikeouts. Childress moved from the outfield to the pitcher's mound in the fifth and was received rudely.

In the home fifth, Sisson ripped a one out single and Self got on base after another infield error. Joseph Pierson moved the runners to first and second and Jonathan Douglas drove in both runners, for a 6-5 rebound.

Back came Windsor in the sixth. Lead-off hitter deluxe, Jacob Council earned a walk, stole second and moved to third on a well-executed bunt by Williams. Childress knocked in Council to tie the score and Hunter Whitley wacked an opposite field single to reclaim the lead for the Duke's.

In the top of the seventh Sisson and Self knew their mission. Sisson worked a five pitch base on balls, and Self singled to left to open the frame. Pierson laid down a nice bunt and the go ahead runners were in scoring position. Jonathan Douglas's ground ball to shortstop promised a double play, yet brought disaster for the Duke's. An error scored Sisson and Self was on third, representing the go ahead run. With two outs in the inning Austin Douglas reached on yet another infield error, scoring self and seizing the lead.

Wiseman toiled for innings doing his best to stem the Duke's onslaught and need one shut out inning for the crown. Williams lead-off single in the last of the seventh brought the Duke's some hope and a walk and a stolen base by Council created a roar in the grandstand, the thundering feet of the Windsor fans could smell a victory. With Childress in the batter’s box, Wiseman remained calm and induced a lazy fly ball center field that would end the game and bestow the state title to the Rappahannock Raiders. Final score Raider's 8, Duke's 7.