The Shadow
Perhaps there needs to be a small asterisk.
But for Ian Dickson, Monday at Casey Field will be a night to remember.
The Lafayette College right-hander twirled the first no-hitter in Rockbridge Rapids history, striking out 17 in a 4-0 win over the Covington Lumberjacks.
The Jacks, who had already clinched a playoff berth, rested most of their regulars, pitched position players and let pitchers take at-bats in preparation for the Valley League playoffs.
“We were just trying to build a little morale going into the playoffs,” said Lumberjacks manager Arlan Freeman. “We had a little fun tonight.”
So did the Rapids.
Rockbridge, who was eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday night by the Lumberjacks, closed their year with 18 wins, doubling the nine from their inaugural 2009 season.
Dickson was the headline story of the night.
The Northport, N.Y., native allowed only four base runners – three walks and an error.
“Give that kid credit,” said Freeman. “He pitched really well.”
The Lumberjacks used nine pitchers on the night.
Andre Vazquez (Florida International) got the mound start and was followed by eight different position players.
“Those guys did a good job,” said Freeman. “The position guys got 10 strikeouts. Those guys always want to pitch and the pitchers always want to get an at-bat.”
Chris Love (Newberry) drove in all four runs for the Rapids, including a three-run homer in the eighth.
The Lumberjacks, who finished the regular season at 20-24, now quickly turn their attention to the playoffs and a first round best-of-3 match-up with Luray.
The Wranglers were 27-17 in the regular season, second in the Valley.
The teams split their season series 2-2, with the home team winning every game.
“We played them tough,” said Freeman. “I really have tried to keep things loose as much as possible. We’ve been talking about having fun and playing the game hard. I think that’s what they’ll do up there tomorrow night.”
Luray, whose pitching staff leads the VBL with a 3.10 earned run average, will send Tucker Jensen (4-1, 1.64 earned run average) to the hill in Game 1.
The Lumberjacks will counter with Seton Hall’s Benny Mejia (1-1, 2.52), a second-year Covington player who started two postseason games in last year’s playoff run.
If the Jacks are to make one of their patented August runs, they will do it a bit shorthanded.
Mike Martinez (Florida International), who leads the club with a .336 average, 10 home runs and 36 runs batted in, is still sidelined with a bad back.
“Mike won’t play in the first round,” Freeman said Monday night.
Jake Ramsey, 4-1 with a 2.75 earned run average and three saves, will also be unavailable for the playoffs.
Ramsey inked a free agent deal with Kansas City on Monday and will report to the Royals’ Appalachian League team in Burlington (N.C.) Wednesday.
