5/20/2017 baseball Edit

3A-West Softball Region Breakdown

Shane Mettlen

VirginiaPreps.com Contributor

BRIDGEWATER -- It's difficult to imagine any team opening postseason play in a more dominant fashion than Turner Ashby did Thursday night against Western Albemarle. The No. 1 seed in the Conference 29 softball tournament hammered the Warriors 21-0 behind two home runs from senior Alia Miller.

Miller also combined with Ocean Burris in the pitcher's circle for a one-hit shutout as the Knights advanced to face either Fluvanna or Monticello in the conference semifinals. Turner Ashby showed off its depth with freshman Sydney Eye belting a pinch-hit home run, leaving the Knights confident going forward.

“We are a very lucky team,” Turner Ashby coach Clint Curry said. “I can take any sub we have and feel 100-percent confident. That's a good feeling. No matter the situation, I'm comfortable putting any of our players out there.”

But as good as the Knights looked Thursday, there are plenty of roadblocks ahead in a very tough 3A West Region. Here's a look ahead at the other regional favorites:

BROOKVILLE -- The Bees wrapped up the regular season 20-0 to clinch the No. 1 seed in Conference 30 and at this point might just be the favorites to win the state title. Pitcher Jordan Dail has dominated the competition and will likely pass the 1,000 strikeout mark for her career this postseason.

CARROLL COUNTY -- The No. 1 seed in Conference 32 is also undefeated and if the tournaments play out according to seed we could be heading toward an outstanding pitchers’ duel between Dail and Carroll’s Sydney Nester. Nester was the state player of the year last season and the junior is already committed to North Carolina State.

WILLIAM BYRD -- Conference 31 is a highly competitive one, but the Terriers, looking for their first state title, have a solid shot at advancing thanks in large part to future Virginia Tech pitcher Mara Strum.

LORD BOTETOURT -- The Cavaliers split their Blue Ridge District series with William Byrd, but could be moving toward one more meeting in the conference finals. Slugger Kaitlyn Deeter leads the way for the Cavs.