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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

Purcellville-Second year program Rock Ridge travelled to Woodgrove Tuesday evening. The game promised a good pitching matchup as both teams started an uncommitted junior righthander. Nick Stewart for the Phoenix, and Ryan Miles for the Wolverines.

The first inning went relatively quietly for both teams as Miles went three-up, three-down and Stewart worked around a two-out single. Miles also got through the second quickly, striking out the side around a one out single. For velocities and scouting information on Stewart and Miles, check the Virginia/DC Scout Blog later this week.

Woodgrove got on the board in the bottom of the second as leadoff hitter Austin Rader (Naval Academy) hit a fly ball to right that was misplayed into a leadoff double. Rader was bunted down to third with one out, and after Stewart got the second out of the inning on a strikeout, and then Rader scored on a passed ball.

The Phoenix began to build an inning in the top of the third, getting two runners on courtesy of an error and infield single, but again Miles was able to get a strikeout to end the threat. Woodgrove again threatened in the bottom of the third, with runners on first and second with one out after Colin Reid (Radford) singled to pick up his second hit of the game. Stewart then got a pair of flyouts to end the threat and the third inning, with the score still Woodgrove 1, Rock Ridge 0.

The fourth started with Stewart striking out at the plate, but reaching first base when the ball got away from the catcher. Stewart was then bunted down to second base and Xavier Jessie drew a walk to put two runners on. The next batter reached on an error which allowed Stewart to score the tying run and put two runners into scoring position with just one out. Sophomore catcher Ben Wright rolled a single through the infield, driving in two runs and giving Rock Ridge the lead. Wright was thrown out at second trying to advance on the relay, and Miles was able to end the threat there.

Stewart got locked in at this point with the lead, recording perfect fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, retiring thirteen straight hitters at one point. The Phoenix would extend their lead with another run in the fifth, chasing Miles when Woodgrove brought in senior Zack Lockhart, who was able to end the threat with the bases loaded.

The Phoenix added another insurance run in the seventh after another leadoff hitter reached base on a dropped strikeout, and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the seventh, Stewart got the first two outs quickly before allowing a pair of two out baserunners to bring the top of the order back up for Woodgrove. Stewart got a routine groundout to second to end the game and lock up the Rock Ridge win.

For the Phoenix, Stewart earned the win, going 7 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 1 HBP, 0 BB, 2 K. Brynn Goldman went 1-2 with a SB, BB, and a sacrifice. Wright went 1-3 with 2 RBI. The Phoenix are off for the rest of the week, with their next game being Monday, April 25 at Potomac Falls.

For Woodgrove, Miles took the loss, going 4 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 4 BB, and 7 K. Lockhard went 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 H, 4 K. Offensively, Reid was 2-3 with a SB and Rader went 1-3 with a 2B and a run scored. The Wolverines return to action Friday as they travel to Heritage (Leesburg).