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Early Deficit Dooms Falcons, 10-6
Ryan Smith hits a bases-loaded, three-run double off the wall in the seventh inning, Andrew Byrd follows with a two-run home run and the Fauquier Falcons pull off a come-from-behind upset.
That’s what Fauquier coach Paul Koch has come to expect of his 2009 team.
But his expectation wasn’t reality Monday. That scenario only played out in Koch’s mind.
The sixth-seeded Falcons actually left the bases loaded in the seventh and lost, 10-6, to the No. 3 Loudoun Valley Vikings in the Cedar Run District quarterfinals at Fireman’s Field in Purcellville. Loudoun Valley (14-7) advanced to play Osbourn in the semifinals Tuesday, while Fauquier’s season ended at 9-11.
Regardless, Koch was struck with the character and heart his players showed all season. That’s why he expected them to provide seventh-inning heroics against Loudoun Valley.
“I wouldn’t have thought anything different with these guys,” Koch said. “They’re probably the most fun bunch I’ve coached in my life — gutsy, tough.”
In the opposite dugout, Loudoun Valley coach Wayne Todd wasn’t too worried about the scenario that played out in Koch’s mind. Smith represented the tying run and had hit a home run, triple and double earlier in the game, but there were two outs and Todd was confident with reliever Daniel Burke on the mound.
“The only thing that did concern me was balls were flying out of here,” Todd said. “It’s a four-run lead and if you do [homer] it’s still a tie ballgame and we get to hit in the bottom.”
Smith only saw one fastball out of the strike zone in that at bat and ended up grounding out on a curveball...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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