By Jimmy Thomas
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
Washington-Lee’s varsity baseball team advanced to the National District tournament semifinals with a decisive, 21-1 victory over Stuart at home on Tuesday.
Junior Mike MacKenzie started for the Generals and went five complete innings for the win. Mackenzie, who only allowed one hit, struck out five Raider batters on the night and only allowed one base runner to reach third.
Offensively, Washington-Lee was just as impressive. The Generals scored multiple runs in five different innings including posting a whopping nine runs in the sixth. (There is no 10-run, mercy rule during the playoffs.) Washington-Lee senior Nate Rogers, a first-team, all-National District catcher, capped the inning with a bases-loaded double that scored all three runners. Rogers also hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to total five RBIs on the night.
Generals’ sophomore clean-up hitter Tom Edwards also had a big game, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
Despite Washington-Lee’s solid offensive performance, Stuart’s junior starter Sam Nelson actually pitched well enough to keep his team in the game. Nelson went 4 1/3 innings, striking out six. But the Raiders were snake bitten by five errors and a few misplayed balls in the outfield due to the bright sunlight.
The Raiders plated their lone run in the top half of the seventh when senior Bobby Horton tripled and later scored on fielders’ choice by Daniel Falkenstern.
With the win, Washington-Lee not only advances to play the winner of Thomas Edison/Falls Church game in a district semifinal on Wednesday at Mount Vernon, but is secured a berth into the upcoming Northern Region tournament.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 – F
Stuart 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 1
Washington-Lee 3 3 0 3 3 9 X – 21
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