by James J. Lidington

ISLE OF WIGHT
Junior Noah Colyer collected IWA’s only hit of the game in the Metro tournament final, a 10-0 loss to Atlantic Shores Christian on Friday at IWA.

Shores’ Jon Sawyers pitched four hitless innings. Tanner James pitched two innings of relief in a non-save situation.

On Thursday, the Chargers had fought to hang on to their No. 8 ranking when they defeated rival Portsmouth Christian 9-5 in a Metro Athletic Conference tournament semifinal at IWA.

IWA spotted the Patriots a 5-0 lead after two innings, but surged back with a total of 8 runs in the fourth and fifth frames, adding another in the sixth for good measure.

Hunter Hayden got the starting nod for IWA and allowed 4 hits, 5 runs (2 earned,) walking one and striking out 3.

But Noah Pye came on in relief, limiting PCS to 2 hits over 4 innings.

The teams combined for 11 errors and 8 unearned runs.

What may have been the most important play of the game occurred in the Patriots’ second inning. Leading 2-0, catcher Darren DelPapa was thrown out trying to score from second base on a one-out single.

The relay to IWA catcher Dylan Robertson was on target and he shifted in front of the plate to make the tag. But Delpapa came in high on Robertson and not only made the second out of the inning; he was ejected for dangerous play.

The move forced pitcher Garrett Woodworth, who had dominated IWA in a previous start, behind the dish at catcher and brought in Iziah Turner, who allowed 4 hits and 7 runs in 3.2 innings.

The two teams had split prior meetings this season. IWA defeated PCS 12-1 at home March 19, but lost at PCS 3-0 on April 20. They finished with identical 3-3 conference marks, and conference officials had to resort to a tie-breaker to determine tournament seeding. After head-to-head records and records against higher-ranked conference opponents, officials looked to common opponents.

The two schools played four common opponents: Greenbrier Christian, Norfolk Collegiate, Norfolk Academy and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Isle of Wight Academy was 1-3 versus these schools (won over Nansemond-Suffolk Academy) and Portsmouth Christian lost to all four schools. Therefore, IWA was the second seed, hosting the semifinal, rather than traveling to PCS, the site of their 3-0 loss to the Patriots.

Previously, the Chargers lost a pitchers’ duel 2-0 to Atlantic Shores last Tuesday in the regular season finale for both teams. Junior Bryce Daniels allowed only 3 hits in 4-2/3 innings. Tyler Watkins hurled 1.1 innings of reLief, allowing a hit and a run.

IWA’s Boyce, Dixon Mills, Pye and Robertson made the 2018 All-Metro Conference baseball team, announced after the tournament final.

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