The Shadow
CULPEPER, Va. (VR) – Culpeper erased a six-run deficit and used a late RBI triple from Blagen Pado in the bottom of the eighth to edge the Covington Lumberjacks, 11–10, in a wild first-round Southern Division playoff game at Culpeper County High School.
The Lumberjacks built a 7–1 lead behind a balanced offensive effort. Leadoff hitter Dariel Castillo reached base twice, scored two runs, and drove in another on a sacrifice fly. He also stole two bases. Gonzalez went 2-for-4, scoring three runs and driving in two. Victor Sanchez added two hits, two runs, and an RBI, while Bradon Durfee finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Covington totaled 10 hits, eight RBIs, and seven stolen bases on the night.
Willy Méndez knocked in two runs, and W. Gonzalez scored twice from the eighth spot in the lineup. A.J. Barrios also crossed the plate once and swiped two bags. Covington scored three in the third, four in the fourth, two in the seventh, and one more in the eighth. Castillo, Gonzalez, and Durfee each contributed to the scoring surge in multiple innings.
Culpeper responded with a solo home run by Mason Breton in the second, then added two runs in the fourth and seven more in the fifth to erase the deficit. Alejandro Ludeiro reached base three times, scored three runs, and added two hits, while Ethan Belk, Blagen Pado, Caleb Estes, Evan Escobar, and Crittenberger all drove in runs. The Cavaliers matched Covington’s hit total with 10 of their own and also committed four errors.
On the mound, Quinton Wright started for the Lumberjacks, going four innings and striking out five while allowing three runs. Jeffred Fermin faced five batters in the fifth without recording an out, giving up three hits and five runs—two earned. Jorge Garcia III pitched the final four innings and was charged with the loss after allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits.
Ed Wagner started for Culpeper and allowed six earned runs over 3.1 innings, walking five. Owen Winebarger threw 5.2 innings of relief and earned the win, giving up just two earned runs on five hits while striking out one.
The Cavaliers took advantage of Covington’s four errors—two of which came from Nicholas Rodriguez behind the plate. Despite the miscues, the Lumberjacks kept pace late, tying the game 10–10 in the top of the eighth. Pado’s go-ahead triple in the bottom half was the difference.
The final line: Covington 10 runs, 10 hits, 4 errors; Culpeper 11 runs, 10 hits, 4 errors. The Lumberjacks left five runners on base, while the Cavaliers stranded eight. Culpeper advances to face Harrisonburg in the Southern Division semifinals. Covington’s season ends in dramatic fashion—one run short.
