by James J. Lidington

CHARLOTTESVILLE
Isle of Wight Academy’s baseball team fell in the VISAA Division II quarterfinal round, 10-0, on May 15 to Miller School of the Albemarle at its hilltop Charlottesville campus.

Only two Chargers — Dixon Mills and Hunter Hayden — collected hits against Miller, who mercy-ruled IWA in the bottom of the fifth on a towering walk-off grand slam to left field by catcher Adam Hackenberg.

Miller’s Stuart Barrett tossed five innings of shutout ball to claim the win. He walked three and struck out the same.

To qualify for the quarterfinals, IWA had previously defeated Trinity Christian of Fairfax 4-2 on May 14 in a play-in game at IWA.

Mills and Ryan Boyce both homered for the Chargers. Dylan Robertson was 3-for-3.

IWA’s Bryce Daniels pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits, two runs — none of which were earned runs. He walked one and struck out three.

The meeting with Trinity was IWA’s second of the year. The Chargers previously lost to the Gryphons 7-3 on April 14 in a game played in Warrenton.

The Gryphons made it clear they meant business against IWA Monday. They scored twice in their first at-bat on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Husmann and an RBI double by Justin Smith. Boyce’s homer made it 2-1 after one inning.

Mills tied the score with his big fly in the third and the Chargers reclaimed the lead, 3-2, in the fourth on an RBI single by Andrew Holt that plated Josh Savage from third base.

IWA added another run in their final at-bat when Noah Colyer scored on a Trinity balk.

The Chargers finish the year with a record of 11-11.

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