COLONIAL HEIGHTS—It was a good day for baseball at Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights.

The weather was good and the home team the Raiders of Southampton Academy had advanced to the finals of the VISSAA Div. lll championship game to face the Fuqua School Falcons. Playing on Sunday, May 18, the stands were packed with many loyal, cheering fans of the Raiders. But after a hard played game the Raiders went down swinging 4-5 in the 8th inning of play.

Starting on the mound for the Raiders was Brynner Porter. Pitching strong and with great control, Porter sent 9 of the Falcons back to the dugout after striking them out. The game went scoreless until the bottom of the 5th inning. Raider pitcher Brynner Porter reached 1st base on a hit. Harrison Pope entered the game to run for Porter. On an attempted pick-off at first base a bad throw resulted in Pope scoring the first run of the game.

The Falcons in turn went on the offense in the top of the 6th inning. After a hit and a successful bunt, Southampton head coach Tim Nixon went to the mound to talk with his pitcher. Leaving Porter on the mound, with runners on 1st and 3rd bases, another bunt scored the first score for the Falcons. Another hit scored the second score. With runners on 1st and 2nd the Raiders third baseman got the first out on a forced play at 3rd followed by the second out with a strike out by Porter. After two balls by Porter, Coach Nixon approached the mound again and this time moved first baseman Tonee Hill to the mound. The Falcons continued their offense as they scored two more runs to end the 6th inning ahead 4-1.

At bat in the bottom of the 6th inning, the Raiders Jacob Holland rounded the bases after hitting an out of the park home run. Tonee Hill next advanced to 2nd base after a fielder dropped a deep hit ball. With a hit, Jack Smith allowed Hill to cross home plate on the next play. Continuing their offensive drive, Porter got a hit and drove in Smith to tie the game at 4-all as the inning ended.

The 7th inning went scoreless and caused the game to go into extra innings.

In the top of then 8th inning, the Falcons got a triple followed by a base hit, which scored the game winning run. With two runners on base, Coach Nixon went back to the mound and put in Andrew Lowe. After great defense by the Raiders they retired the side but could not generate any offense at bat and the game ended.

Coach Nixon and his coaching staff spent much time with the team in congratulating them on the game and the season. In comments Coach Nixon stated, “it was a really good baseball game, we fight these guys year in and out. These were two battled tested teams, and they came out on top. I tip my hat to these guys. We had fun. We are very blessed.”