Errors prove costly for JF in tourney loss

Chris Humphreys
Published: May 29, 2008

AMHERST — Jefferson Forest was in a giving mood again on Thursday in the Cavaliers’ Region III baseball semifinal against Waynesboro at Amherst High School.
But this time, JF wasn’t able to overcome seven errors that led to seven unearned runs in the Cavaliers 10-8 loss to the Little Giants.
In Jefferson Forest’s 9-8, nine-inning victory over Northside last Wednesday in Forest, the Cavaliers were able to advance to the semifinals despite committing eight errors that led to four unearned runs.
“You can’t do that with good teams,” Jefferson Forest coach Ryan Gilleland said. “(Waynesboro) went to the state semifinals for a reason last year. They were opportunistic and they did a good job putting some pressure on (because) they have some guys that can run.”
Said Little Giants coach Jim Critzer: “It’s been our goal to get back to the state tournament all year. Tomorrow we will throw the kitchen sink because we know we will be playing baseball on Tuesday.
Jefferson Forest finishes the season at 18-5.
The big blow to the Cavaliers came in the top of the fifth inning when Waynesboro (22-5) scored four unearned runs to take a 10-6 lead.
Forest starting pitcher Eric Heiligenstadt retired the first two batters of the inning before Derek Hall doubled to the fence in right center. Bobby Shelton relieved Heiligenstadt at that point and gave up an infield single to Will Freeman. Shelton then attempted to pick off Freeman at first and threw the ball into the fence along the right-field line allowing Hall to score and Freeman to advance to third.
Joe Lucas followed with a chopper along the third-base line that Ragan Rudisill fielded cleanly but his throw to first, which beat Lucas, was in the dirt and Dylon Higley couldn’t snare it, allowing Freeman to score.
Terrell Thompson put the finishing touches on the inning with a long two-run homer to dead center that gave the Little Giants a 10-6 lead.
Heiligenstadt went 4 2/3 innings allowed seven runs, three earned on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four batters and hit two. Thompson was 2-for-3, was hit by a pitch twice, scored two runs and drove in two.
Despite the errors and unearned runs, Jefferson Forest was only a few inches from having the tying run at second or a few feet from tying the game with one out and its most dangerous hitter at the plate.
The Cavaliers had scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth on bases-loaded walks by Tyler Brown and Hunter Gordon to cut it to 10-8. In the bottom of the seventh, Shelton led off with a walk. After Shane Timberlake popped out to third, Higley mashed a ball to left center. Lucas made a terrific running catch in the gap just in front of the fence.
“That was a big-league play (by Lucas) right there,” Gilleland said. “Higley got robbed. He couldn’t have hit it any harder. We had some chances and hit the ball hard.”
Said Critzer: “Once I saw Joe going back on it I knew he was going catch it. I knew if it (stayed) in the (fence) he was going to catch it.”
Critzer then had Drew DeMoss intentionally walk cleanup hitter Josh Huffman. Huffman had crushed a two-run homer to left in the third. DeMoss then got Matt Wallman to bounce out harmlessly with a comebacker to DeMoss. 
DeMoss, just a freshman, earned the save for the Little Giants by working 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of starting pitcher Jeremy Hahn.
“We’ve had 15 errors in the last two games and I’d be surprised if we made 15 errors in the previous 15 games,” said Gilleland, whose team also stranded 12 runners Thursday. “We just didn’t make enough plays and they did. We didn’t get it done.”
Shelton was the tough luck loser. He worked 3 1/3 innings, allowed three runs, all three were unearned, two hits, a walk and struck out a batter. Higley was 3-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base. Huffman was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two walks. Wallman was 2-for-3, was hit by a pitch, drew a walk, and scored three runs. Brown was 0-for-1 but drew three walks, scored a run and had an RBI. Gordon was 2-for-2 with a walk and four RBIs.
“They’ve got nothing to be ashamed about,” Gilleland said. “It was a great year. We were 18-5. We won the Seminole regular-season and tournament titles and that’s something they will never forget as long as they are alive. I know they wanted to keep playing but it just wasn’t meant to be today.” 
Said Critzer: “My hat’s off to Jefferson Forest they have a whale of good team. They just came up a little short.”