Raiders end Devils’ season

By Jason simcoe

Published: May 20, 2008

MANASSAS — All it took was one bad ricochet to end the CCHS baseball team’s season.

With a runner standing on second in the bottom of the seventh inning, Stonewall Jackson’s Pete Mullinax hit a sharp ground ball back up the middle. CCHS second baseman Brandon Scott broke to his right to make the play, but the ball caromed off pitcher Brad Settle’s leg into the hole Scott had vacated.

As the ball rolled into the outfield, Buddy Fields came around to score from second, lifting the Raiders to a 5-4 win in the opening round of the Cedar Run district tournament.

The night was filled with rough breaks for the Blue Devils. Just moments before, CCHS seemingly had Fields caught in a rundown between first and second base, but first baseman Hunter Kenney’s throw to shortstop Trevor Funk floated a bit too high and Fields avoided the tag.

In the top of the seventh, pinch-hitter Ross Karnes lined a single into left field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Then CCHS right fielder Nolan Jenkins hit a deep line drive to center field, but Stonewall’s Chris Smith made a diving grab.

“I thought that ball was going to carry a little bit more than it did.” Jenkins said after the game.

Moments later, Funk lined a single to center to score Karnes, but was quickly picked off first base.

It was a tough loss for the Blue Devils, who negated three-run and two-run deficits.

The Raiders scored three times in the first two innings and early on, Stonewall Jackson pitcher Josh Cesario seemed to have the Blue Devils’ number. He retired the first six batters he faced before CCHS finally got on track in the third.

Josh Gardiner led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a Joey Powell sacrifice bunt. After a Nolan Jenkins single, Trevor Funk lined to center field to score the game’s first run. The next batter, Scott, grounded a ball up the middle, but after Fields forced Funk at second, his double-play throw to first went wide, allowing Jenkins to come around to score.

The Raiders scored again in the bottom of the third, but the Funk again answered for the Blue Devils, doubling in the fifth to score Jenkins and pull CCHS to within one, 4-3.

“I’ve just been working on my swing a lot,” Funk said. “I’ve been trying to use my hands more.”

Settle pitched six plus innings for the Blue Devils, allowing seven hits and striking out six. Cesario went the distance for the Raiders, striking out five.

Despite the loss, the Blue Devils finished the season 10-11, a sharp improvement over recent years. They’ll graduate seven seniors, but a number of underclassmen contributed this spring, leaving the team with an air of excitement about the future.

“I pulled them into the huddle and said ‘Walk tall and walk proud,’” CCHS coach Danny Nobbs said. “Basically this season has set up every Culpeper season from here on out.”

Jason Simcoe can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 166 or