Fort's Miller, Wilson's McDaniel post pitching gems in wins; Staunton falls in non-district play

STUARTS DRAFT – Fort Defiance snapped a scoreless tied with three run in the top of the fifth inning Friday to defeat the Stuarts Draft Cougars 3-0 in Shenandoah District baseball action.

Fort’s Tyler Miller and Draft’s Spencer Gates traded zeroes through the first four innings before the Indians broke through in the fifth.

With one out, Miller singled to left and Tripp Hanger walked. Lance Fridley, the courtesy runner for Miller, got a big jump at second and stole third base. On the next pitch, Hanger swiped second to put two runners in scoring position. With two outs, senior Carter Berry lined a single to left, scoring both baserunners for a 2-0 Indians lead. Berry scored on Landon Powell’s double to deep left, making the score 3-0.

The Cougars threatened in the sixth when Miller walked leadoff batter Tyler Truslow and Nolan Tinsley was hit by a pitch. Fort’s infield then turned a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning. Miller retired the side in order in the seventh to finish the 3-0 victory.

Miller allowed just one hit. That came on his first pitch of the game when Draft’s Christian Hoke singled to center. The Fort righty struck out five and walked two.

“Tyler pitched a great game. He kept things under control the entire game. He did a great job of keeping his pitch count down and defensively we made the plays we needed to make,” said Fort head coach Damien Fink.

Draft’s Gates pitched six innings and allowed five hits while striking out 12 Fort batters.

“Spencer (Gates) is one of the best arms in our district. We knew what kind of approach we would need to have at the plate today. Carter Berry came up in a big situation and got the big hit,” Fink added. 

Wilson 8, Buffalo Gap 1
BUFFALO GAP – Wilson broke open a close game with five runs in the top of the fourth inning Friday to defeat the Buffalo Gap Bison 8-1 in Shenandoah District baseball action.

Addy Flesher and Wyatt Wood each produced a two-run double during the big fourth inning for Wilson. Wood added a solo homer in the sixth.

Leadoff hitter Jayden Saunders finished 3-for-4 for the Hornets. Wyatt Wood was 2-for-4 and drove in four runs. Eli Irving also had two hits for Wilson.

Ryan McDaniel turned in five dominant innings of the mound to get the win. McDaniel allowed no runs on just two hits while striking out eight Gap hitters. Nolan Deaver and Juan-Michael Aguirre each pitched one inning to finish up. Deaver allowed no hits, but did give up an unearned run. Aguirre allowed one hit.

Dalton Coffey, Bradley Shiflett and Brandon Argenbright each had a hit for the Bison.

Alleghany 8, Staunton 4
STAUNTON – Alleghany took the lead with a five-run outburst in the top of the third inning Friday and went on to defeat the Staunton Storm 8-4 in non-district baseball action.

Staunton had 13 hits with Gabe Johnson, Daniel Caswell, Nathan Neil and Riley Cool finishing with two hits apiece. Henry Knox and Cook each drove home a run. Knox and Neil each had a double.