SALEM - One year removed from a 1-0 loss to Chilhowie in the Region C quarterfinals, Fort Chiswell not only avenged that loss with a 9-8 victory over the Warriors but also clinched the school's first ever berth into the Group A baseball playoffs.

Fort Chiswell carried a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning and had to endure a furious comeback effort by Chilhowie.  With one out in the bottom of the seventh, the Warriors got back-to-back singles out of Scott Pennington and Daniel Ashby to ignite the rally.  Caleb Sheets then belted a shot to the right field fence that ended in a double for him and scored his teammates to put the Warriors within two, 9-7.  Two batters later, designated-hitter Seth McKinney got on base due to a Pioneer fielding error which scored Sheets.  The Warriors were now within one.

Facing a potential game changing jam, pitcher Michael Dunford kept things calm and grounded out the final Chilhowie batter with two men on base to seal the deal.  Dunford also pitched against Covington on Tuesday in Fort Chiswell's first round victory over the Cougars.

"We pitched our workhorse," said Pioneer coach Derrick Jackson.  "I said coming in that I would stick with what has worked."

The Pioneers got on the board early in the first inning when clean-up hitter Parker Mabe's double scored Hody Viars from second.

The lead didn't last long as the bottom of the inning featured two Warrior scores thanks to consecutive doubles from Forest Haga and Scott Pennington followed by an RBI single from Ashby.

The Pioneers were down 5-3 before rattling off four runs in the fifth.  It all started with a hard double to left field by Viars.  Viars stole third base before being hit home on an RBI single by Mabe.  The next batter, Colten Ayers, got a free base off a walk.  Ty Kirby then got two RBI's of his own, scoring Mabe and Ayers on a triple.  Gabe Ayers then grounded into a fielder's choice which scored Kirby to give the Pioneers a late 7-5 lead.

Fort Chiswell would add two more runs in the sixth, highlighted by a Hody Viars RBI triple and a sacrifice fly by Parker Mabe making the score 9-5 heading into the seventh.

"This was a hard fought game," said Coach Jackson.  "They [Chilhowie] did a heck of a job.  They are easily the best hitting team we have faced all year."

For the Warriors it was their fourth consecutive early exit from the playoffs.

"It was a tough way to go down," added Chilhowie's Jeff Robinson.  "We need to find a way to make it over that hump, but I'm proud of these boys."

Fort Chiswell advances to play Glenvar, tonight at 6 pm at Salem's Kiwanis Field.
 
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