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Its hard to fathom being a two seed in the region, hosting your region semifinal, and despite all of that you are considered the underdog against the six seed.

Yet that was the case on Tuesday night when the powerhouse Hanover Hawks, who have been to the state tournament in class 4A for the past five years in a row, visited the 19-2 Powhatan Indians. Yet the Indians proved why they are one of the top teams in Virginia this 2018 with a come from behind, 6-5 victory over Hanover, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh capped by a Hunter Hopkins walk-off two out, two-RBI single to left field.

Surely the Indians did not think themselves as underdogs, but to many across the state, (including ourselves) Hanover was the team to beat in this region. Even with the Hawks making the 2018 spring one of the most wild roller coaster rides in recent memory to the tune of an 12-7 record. All of this with a strong core of returning seniors in their final campaign. 

Hanover was able to strike early in the top of the first scoring three runs on the board, while Powhatan was only able to respond with one. Hanover would add two insurance runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-1 lead and Powhatan was able to scratch one more run across in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 5-2 as we headed to the final frame.

Hanover ace Jack Dragum (Virginia) was able to keep a dangerous Powhatan lineup under control  through the first six innings, scattering 10 hits prior to the seventh inning and making some big pitches when needed. That caused his pitch count to go up heading into the seventh when Powhatan led off the inning with a Matthew Church double to deep left center to start the inning. Dragum's day would finally come to an end with a 2-1 count on Powhatan's Cody Willis and the Hawks would go to the pen.

Willis' at bat would stretch to full, then the senior first baseman hit a chopper to the right side of the infield. Hanover's first baseman, having to cut the ball off in order to get an out, did so and rushed his throw to the pitcher who was covering the bag. The off-balance throw went into the dugout and Willis was awarded second while Church scored to make it 5-3.

A walk would follow putting runners at first and second, and the Hawks would make another pitching change, going to senior Nick Zona (JMU). Powhatan's Brandon Eike doubled down the left field line to score another run and put runners at second and third, making the score 5-4. Hanover would put the next hitter on base to load the bags and create a force out and potential game ending double play anywhere. Zona would get a strikeout and Hopkins would be the last hope for the Indians, and he would come through in a big way with his line drive to left that sent the Indians to the State Playoffs.