Fischer and Bassett Lead West Potomac to Win

Wednesday night saw West Potomac host Annandale in a Gunston District Tournament semifinal. Both teams have clinched a Region 6C berth, but seeding and a District Championship is on the line this week. Annandale jumped out to an early lead but West Potomac used a 7-run second inning to pull ahead and ultimately win 9-4 to advance to Friday's District championship game.

Both teams sent underclassmen to the mound to open the game, West Potomac starting with junior lefty Adam Fischer and Annandale tabbing sophomore righty Danny Salisbury for the start. Annandale's offense got off the ground quickly as Fischer got squeezed a bit in the first, walking Ethan Zimmerman to open the game and then Spencer Robson punched a single up the middle. Salisbury opened the scoring with a groundball that got down the third base line. Annandale added a second run when Alex Brennan lifted a sacrifice fly to center. Fischer then found the zone and got a punch out and a caught stealing to end the threat with Annandale leading 2-0.

Salisbury worked around a leadoff double to put up a scoreless first, and Fischer answered with a quick top of the second to bring West Potomac back up, trailing 2-0. 

After an error and an out in the bottom of the second, Aidan Sanderson drove in West Potomac's first run with a single to left. Fischer drew a walk and both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, only to score when Henry Dean singled to center, giving the Wolverines a 3-2 lead. A pair of infield singles loaded the bases for Justin Bassett, who mashed a no-doubt grand slam to left to extend the lead to 7-2. Salisbury would bring the inning to an end after that, but the damage had been done. 

Annandale would get a run back in the top of the third when Zimmerman doubled to right-center, and scored when Salisbury reached on an error. Annandale would add one more run in the top of the sixth on a Salisbury single to left, and West Potomac got insurance runs in the fifth and sixth, with Bassett ripping a double down the leftfield line to drive in their final run of the night. Jack Bachmore (Lynchburg) entered the game and worked a quiet top of the seventh for the Wolverines to seal their 9-4 win and send them to the District championship game on Friday.

For West Potomac, Fischer earned the win with 6 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 3 BB, and 8 K while also going 1-2 with a BB at the plate. Bassett was 2-4 with a grand slam, 2B, and 5 RBIs. Jimmy Curley (High Point) was 2-3 with a HBP. Dean was 2-3 with 2 RBIs.

For Annandale, Salisbury earned the loss going 5.1 IP, 9 R, 13 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K while also going 2-3 with 2 RBIs at the plate. Zimmerman was 1-2 with a 2B and a BB. Robson was 2-3 with a 2B.