The Shadow
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (VR) – Alleghany jumped fast and controlled most of the night, stacking a 6-0 lead through four innings behind a steady lineup that kept pressure on Albemarle from the first pitch.
The Cougars’ offense came in waves in the opening frame, stringing together singles from Kai Rowland, Graham Brewster, Jalen Raether, Brady May, and Tucker Phillips. The early barrage set the tone, with Alleghany pushing across runs in bunches and forcing Albemarle to chase the game immediately. By the fourth inning, Trey Cook added a base hit that drove in Graham Brewster to push the lead to 6-0.
On the mound, Alleghany backed it up with clean defense early, turning a first-inning double play from Buddy Leisure-White to Zeke Saville and working out of traffic to keep Albemarle off the board through four innings. Kai Rowland and Trey Cook both worked through pressure spots while the infield handled multiple ground balls cleanly.
Albemarle flipped the game in the fifth.
The Patriots broke through with a surge of extra-base hits and timely contact, cutting into the lead quickly. A two-run double from Jimmy Keseday started the rally, followed by a string of singles and walks that turned a comfortable Cougars lead into a 6-5 game. The inning continued to swing momentum, and Albemarle eventually tied it 6-6 as Alleghany struggled to close out innings cleanly.
From there, both teams traded missed opportunities. Alleghany had runners reach in key spots in the sixth, seventh, and eighth, including an error that extended innings and a bunt single from Jalen Raether that kept pressure on late. Albemarle answered with traffic of their own, putting runners on in nearly every frame down the stretch.
The ninth inning decided it.
Albemarle pushed across the winning run in a chaotic final frame that included a wild pitch, an error, and a series of clutch at-bats that finally broke the tie. The Patriots finished the comeback with a 7-6 walk-off after trailing by six earlier in the game.
Despite the finish, Alleghany’s offense produced across the lineup with consistent contact from Rowland, Brewster, May, Raether, and Phillips, while Saville and Cook each delivered key RBI hits in the middle innings. The Cougars also showed early control on defense and pitching before Albemarle’s late surge.
Final: Albemarle 7, Alleghany 6.
