Lady Falcons, Falcons advance to state semifinals
Published 11:40 am Thursday, May 16, 2019
Fuqua School’s varsity softball and baseball teams were dominant at home in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division III state tournament Tuesday, both advancing to semifinal games Thursday.
The top-seeded Lady Falcons routed No. 8 Roanoke Catholic School 18-0, with senior Hannah-Gray Schmidt earning the win in the circle. Fuqua Head Coach Mike Ford said he did not play senior Regan Ware in the circle so she could rest her back, and he did not expect to start her Thursday.
Schmidt also led the Lady Falcons on offense with three hits, adding two RBIs and three runs scored. Other key players contributing to the team’s 14-hit total were senior Madelyn Bickford, with two hits and four RBIs, junior Carmen Reynolds, also with two hits and four RBIs, and senior Virginia Haney, with two hits and three runs scored.
The Lady Falcons (13-5) were set to play No. 3 Southampton Academy on Thursday at 5 p.m. at RF&P Park in Glen Allen. With a win in that game, they would advance to the state championship held at the same time and location Friday.
The No. 4-seeded Fuqua varsity baseball team separated itself from No. 5 Portsmouth Christian School on Tuesday with an 11-0 victory.
Earning the win on the mound was senior Christian Adams, who allowed no runs and threw five strikeouts across three innings.
The Falcons were outstanding at the plate, featuring several multi-hit performers. Freshman Tanner Thomas went 2-for-2 with a triple, an RBI and walk. Junior Elijah Warner went 3-for-3, each hit being a single.
Junior Drew Osborn finished 2-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs. Sophomore Cody Fulford also went 2-for-3 with two singles and an RBI.
The Falcons (14-4) were set to play No. 1 Walsingham Academy at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights. With a win in that game, the Falcons would advance to the state championship held 11 a.m. Saturday at the same location.
Both the Falcons and Lady Falcons were in their respective state championship games last season, with the Lady Falcons winning the title.
