Rain posponement in the top of the 6th, tied 4-4. Stafford field is beyond trying to get ready for tomorrow, they are looking for a neutral field around Richmond for finishing last 2 innings. This game has already been postponed twice!!!!

I hope they have good luck finding something! A monsoon just passed through some parts of the area that I haven't seen since Hurricane Isabell!

kingjam do you know if ethan carter started? if so how many innings he threw

Carter pitched into the 5th. By his reaction when the Menchville coach pulled him, he thought he had more in the tank.

Well, that would help him to return by Saturday ... if they can get there, which at this point is very much in question.

Hey, if this ends up being played in Richmond, please post that ASAP, I want to be there!!!

Stafford will know in the morning, what the time and place will be. Will post as soon as I hear.

Well, i must say i am somewhat surprised by that score. I think most people on this board had Menchville getting to Saturday without too much resistance from Stafford. Looks like they are in a dogfight...

Carter started the game for Menchville and came out in the middle of the 5th, Chrismon came in relief. Josh Millett started for Stafford with Daniel King coming in the top of the 6th. Game tied 4-4, top of 6th, Menchville up to bat, two runners on, no outs when game was stopped.

I also think that it is a surprise that Stafford scored 4 runs off Carter (the Virginia Gatoraid player of the year). How did Stafford get its 4 runs?

I'm not trying to bash menchville by any means, but I personally feel they are a product of enormous hype. Granted they have some very talented players, but people who had the notion that they were going to skip their way to the championship game need a news-flash. Stafford is a quality team that's not going roll over just because they're going against the Gatorade player of the year. Every team is playing their potential last game and the will to continue on is what will determine success; not awards or the numer of D1 players you have. People should not be surprised at all of stafford wins this game. Every team left in this tourney has seen pitchers that throw high 80's, and from what ive heard about carter he throws in that rage, occasionally a bit faster. That spped won't fool any teams at this point, and runs should be expected.

This is how Stafford got there runs:

Two Menchville errors contributed to a 2-0 Stafford lead in the bottom of the second inning. Kyle Angelet and Patrick Marshall scored runs in the frame.
Stafford added two more runs in the bottom of the third without any help from the Monarchs. Dustin Hunt delivered an RBI single and Marshall connected on an RBI double that scored Hunt.

<<<< How did Stafford get its 4 runs? >>>

Stafford scored based on a combination of things:

Stafford "probably" has at least 5 hits to include a couple of bunts, 1-2 bloopers, 1-2 really solid hits through the infield and a rope to the right center fence for a double. Stafford has hit the ball well.

Bunting as it can do, put pressure on the Menchville defense and created a couple of throwing miscues, which advanced runners and gave Stafford some momentum. Stafford has some speed.

With runners on 1st and 3rd, Menchville went for the runner stealing second, but a miscue on bag coverage (no on took the base) by the Menchville middle infielders caused the throw to go into center field, allowing runs to score and runners to advance.

The umpires strike zone was very tight, but tight both ways.

Carter walked 2-3 and hit a batter. Millet for Stafford also walked about the same number of batters.

Matt Armistead is 2/3 and has hit the ball hard for Menchville (VMI looks to have a good one coming in).

As Kingjam notes: Top of 6th, NO OUTS, Menchville has runners on 2nd & 3rd (First batter HBP, second batter bunt base hit), Stafford's Dan King on the bump.

Should be a great finish!

Please post whenever anyone learns the OFFICIAL word on when/where they will try to finish this game.

Dutchman -
Would you say that Menchville was off? Sounds like their IF gloves were not 100%. I have not seen Menchville, but have heard enough about them.

Ball4:

This was the first time I've seen Menchville play, so I could not comment as to whether they were off or not.

I have seen Ethan Carter pitch on a number of occasions and I do not think he was off. He had some close balls called, but so did Stafford. It was a very tight window.....

Stafford placed some bunts in very nice positions and made it difficult for Menchville to get the lead outs. Because of the placement and the speed that Stafford posses, when Mench checked the lead runners it was too late to get the lead or the batter at first.

I do not recall seeing a lot of errors by the Menchville defense, maybe one throwing error to first and the mental breakdown mentioned above with the middle infield.

The starter for Stafford, Millet, can locate and has a nice breaking pitch, but he doesn't throw 85+. Stafford relies on ground balls and fly outs. Millet did a GREAT job keeping his team in the game...

Seeing Menchville ranked Number 1 in the nation, I really expected to see them seriously mashing. The only person I saw that consistently hit the ball hard was Armistead. They did not hit like I thought they would for as high as they've been ranked this year.... They swung at some bad pitches... , so they probably didn't hit up to their potential? , but again I've never seen them before....

It was obvious to me Stafford was not at all intimidated by Menchville, they've faced some strong pitching this year in the Commonwealth as well. I think being ranked Number 1 in the Country might be a disadvatage, it's a real motivator for your opposition and everyone EXPECTS you to win.

When they return, Menchville's in a very good position with NO OUTS and runners on first and second. Both teams will bring back ACE'S so it should be a fantastic finish...

Still up in the air!

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/

Latest (from digital sports) is that the semis have been moved to Saturday and the 'ship to Sunday, still at Westfield:

Saturday:
Menchville/Stafford vs. West Springfield 3pm
Cox vs. Hanover 7pm

Sunday:
Championship game at 3pm

Breaking News: Friday and Saturday AAA games moved

Here is the "official" info straight from the VHSL:

Updated AAA Schedule

So we know that Stafford v. Menchville won't be played today. They hope for tomorrow.

But tomorrow is supposed to be a washout. VHSL moved the final 4 back to Sat/Sun because of that, but at that time, VHSL was expecting the Stafford-Menchville game to get finished today.

So what happens if they CAN'T finish Stafford-Menchville on Friday as hoped?

In the meantime, all the other teams' top pitchers are getting more rest since their Tuesday outings. It'll be interesting to see who uses their Tuesday starters again on Saturday (?), and who goes ahead and lets them get another day's rest in hopes they are still alive on Sunday.

Wow that's a great point. I think the delay will help Cox and Hanover it should be a pitchers duel.