Fuqua Retuns To State Final

Shepard Stadium in Colonial Heights has to be one of the favorite pitching spots for Fuqua senior Logan Byrd who won his second VISAA State playoff game helping the Falcons to a 5-4 win. Byrd got the win for Fuqua in the 2013 State semi-final win over Southamption Academy.

Byrd scattered four hits while striking out six. He pitched out of a jam in the first inning when two Raider base runners reached third. He allowed two hits in the third when North Cross scored three runs on an error, sacrifice fly and a double steal. Byrd allowed only one base runner after the third inning.

The bottom half of the lineup was huge for Fuqua producing six hits. The number nine hitter Antonio Gonzalez drove in a run with a single off the pitchers glove for the games first run. Thomas Parrish followed with a double to right center scoring two more runs. Thomas then stole third and scored when the ball was thrown over the third baseman's head.

Gonzalez added another RBI in the 4th when his infield single scored Trent Jacobs he reached second after a perfectly executed bunt by catcher Devin Allen. North Cross catcher Tanner McCoy ended the scoring by crossing the plate on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a double.

The Falcons win sets up a third meeting against Southampton Academy and a rematch of the 2013 State semi-finals. Southampton swept the season series 2-0.