Senators earn first-ever championship berth

When Haymarket head coach Ryan Fecteau called on Jack Leathersich in the top of the ninth inning Friday night, Fecteau needed just one thing from the star reliever: an out anyway Leathersich could get it.

With Richard Gonzalez stepping to the plate representing the tying run with two outs, Leathersich answered Fecteau’s request in his most typical fashion, retiring the New Market No. 3 hitter on strikes with an impressive fastball.

A subdued celebration followed, belying what the seventh-seeded Haymarket Senators just accomplished with a 5-3 win. The crowd of 288 in attendance recognized it, though, offering a standing ovation for the club’s first berth to the Valley Baseball League championship series after a sweep of the Rebels in the semifinals.

“That was the goal,” Fecteau said with a bit of a grin. “It’s everyone’s goal. I’ve been telling them all year that it was just a matter of putting it together at the right time.”

The Senators have certainly done that. Haymarket has won seven straight games dating to a 10-9 comeback victory against Front Royal July 29.

Even last night epitomized Fecteau’s philosophy, as the Senators (26-22) took advantage of their opportunities and denied the Rebels the chance to do likewise.

In the sixth inning, with the score tied at a run apiece, Haymarket starter Bob Van Woert worked around a leadoff double by Gonzalez, retiring the next three hitters. In their half of the frame, the Senators wasted no time breaking the deadlock.

Greg Hopkins led off with a walk and scored three batters—including an intentional walk to Andrew Lawrence—later on a wild pitch by New Market reliever Jake Guengerich. Mike Demma followed up with a two-run double, extending the lead to 4-1.

“It was a really big spot, they walked the bases loaded for me and I’m glad I could come through for my team,” said Demma, who went 3 for 4 in the game. “They think they have a better shot at getting you out than the guy they walked ahead of you. I just stuck with my approach and tried to hit the ball where they weren’t.”

Van Woert earned the win with six innings pitched and four strikeouts, giving way to Matt Suschak and Mark Andrews before Leathersich finished the game.

In the other semifinal, No. 8 Covington upset No. 5 Winchester for the second straight night by virtue of a 6-3 final.

For the first time this postseason, Haymarket will host an opponent as the high seed.

“I think there were 10 of the 12 teams had 20 [or more] wins,” Fecteau said of the parity the VBL experienced this year. “You’re talking a seven-win difference between first and 10th, which is nothing.

“No one was able to run away with it and it’s been really good for the league, I think,” the second-year coach added. “It’s good to have a lot of teams that are competitive.”

The best-of-five series alternates home field with Haymarket hosting Covington Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Covington hosts Sunday night with the same start time.