by JAMES J. LIDINGTON

ISLE OF WIGHT
Dixon Mills had three hits and drove in a pair of runs as Isle of Wight Academy defeated Hampton Roads Academy 13-0 here on Friday in five innings.

Hunter Hayden was 2-for-3, scored twice and drove in three teammates. Ryan Boyce was 2-for-2, drove in a run and scored twice. Bryce Daniels was 2-for-3, driving in three.

The win pulled the Chargers’ record to 9-8.

IWA wasted no time in getting its offense started. Mills singled to lead off the inning, then Boyce tripled to right, driving in his predecessor. With two outs, Hunter Hayden singled to drive in Boyce. Daniels then doubled to center, driving in a pair.

IWA scored again the next inning on a Mills homer to left. An inning later, the first two Charger batters made outs. Then, Conner Soady walked and Noah Colyer was hit by a pitch. Then Mills singled to center, scoring Soady. Colyer advanced to third on an outfield error. Boyce followed with a walk and Noah Pye did the same after a Navigator pitching change.

Dylan Robertson then singled to left, advancing Boyce to third and Pye to second. Hayden followed with a two-RBI double. Robertson would later score on a wild pitch. Daniels made the third out of the inning when he hit a fly ball to center and was thrown out. Teammate Josh Savage scored before the final out and IWA claimed a 13-0 lead in the fourth.

Hayden claimed the win for the Chargers, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out four and walking none.

The Chargers had previously entered a key game with Norfolk Collegiate on Thursday, needing a win to preserve their ranking in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Div. II poll. Collegiate got the better of the home team, 17-8.

The two teams combined for 12 errors and 24 hits.

In last week’s rankings, the Chargers were eighth; the Oaks, seventh. The top 9 teams qualify for post-season play.

IWA had a remaining regular-season game on Monday versus Atlantic Shores and will open Metro Athletic Conference Tournament play Thursday, when they host Portsmouth Christian. The Patriots and IWA split their two meetings earlier in the season. State tournament pairings are expected to be announced on May 13.

Isle of Wight rapped out 15 hits in defeating Broadwater Academy in a doubleheader last Monday, 4-2 and 6-1. Boyce had three hits in the opener and Daniels tossed five innings, allowing only a pair of hits.

Seven Chargers had a hit each and Pye earned the win, allowing only 5 hits in 5 innings, in the nightcap.

JAMES J. LIDINGTON is a teacher at Isle of Wight Academy. He can be reached at 357-3866.