(Lorton, VA) – Danny Phillips lined a clutch pinch-hit single to center to drive in the go-ahead run in the 6^th inning and right fielder Joe Danehower gunned down a Spartan base runner at third base to end the game as Chantilly defeated West Springfield Wednesday night in the Northern Region semifinals at South County high school. The win advances the Chargers to the Regional championship game and clinched the team’s first-ever berth in the Virginia AAA state championship tournament.   

 

West Springfield struck in the first inning, picking up an unearned run on a lead-off base hit by center fielder Jeff Haeuptle, who advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch, and scored on an infield error. The Chargers knotted the score in their half of the first when center fielder Chris Gentile led off with a double down the left field line off the Spartan’s starting pitcher Mike Kent. Gentile advanced on third baseman Max Langford’s sacrifice bunt and came home on a ground ball infield error.   West Springfield regained the lead in the 2^nd as first baseman Bobby Wahl doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a fielder’s choice to shortstop. Once again the Charger’s stormed back to retake the lead in their next at-bats as first baseman Brian King reached on an error, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Brandon Beckner, and scored on second baseman Danny Bates’ RBI single to right.   Bates scored the go-ahead run after Chris Gentile walked and Max Langford lined a single to right. 

 

The score remained 3-2 as Chantilly’s starting pitcher Patrick Somers and the Spartan’s Kent kept opposing batters in check over the next three innings, with Chantilly being aided by a key bases-loaded 6-4-3 double play started by shortstop Chris Yates in 4^th inning. In the 6^th the Spartans managed to tie the score on a walk, a ground ball and an infield error by the Chargers. But in the bottom half of the frame Chantilly’s King started a rally with a lead-off single to right center. After Brandon Beckner laid down his second sacrifice bunt of the game to advance the runner, right fielder Justin Carwile lined a base hit to left to put runners on the corners with one out. Pinch hitter Danny Phillips stepped into the box and lined the first pitch he saw from West Springfield’s Kent into center to drive in the go-ahead run. Chris Gentile followed with an RBI ground out to shortstop that plated Carwile with what would prove to be the game winning run.      

 

Down 5-3 going into the top of the 7th, the Spartan’s quickly were down to their last out, as Somers retired their number three and four hitters on infield ground outs. West Springfield catcher Tucker Tobin kept the inning going when he laced a double to right center on a 1-2 count, and advanced to 3^rd when third baseman Randy Sullivan lined a 3-2 pitch off Chantilly’s Somers for an infield hit. Pitcher Mike Kent came to the plate and drove the first pitch into right field scoring Tobin, but defensive replacement Joe Danehower fielded the ball and fired a strike to third baseman Max Langford to cut down Sullivan attempting to advance to third to end the game.  

               

Chantilly’s offense was paced by Max Langford, who was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Chris Gentile, a double and an RBI, and Danny Bates and Danny Phillips each with base hits and RBIs. Justin Carwile and Brian King each contributed base hits in the game. 

 

The Chargers’ starter, Patrick Somers, picked up the win, giving up 2 earned runs while scattering 9 base hits, walking 4 and striking out 2 in a complete game effort. 

 

The Chargers move to 18-6 on the season, and face Lake Braddock, which defeated Oakton 7-2 in the other Regional semifinal, on Friday night at Yorktown high school for the Northern Region championship. With the win the Chargers also earned a berth in the AAA Virginia State Championship Tournament, which begins on Monday, June 3^rd. All times and locations for the State Tournament are TBA.