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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting/Content Management 

Leesburg-Tuscarora loaded up the bus and headed to cross-town rival Loudoun County on Wednesday night to open their 2016 season. The Huskies are coming off of a 10-11 2015 campaign and bring back a veteran lineup in 2016. Loudoun County is coming off of .500 2015 season and has a younger team after losing a lot to graduation.

Sophomore righthander Will Schroeder started for the Raiders and had to battle in the first inning, working around a pair of singles and a walk to leave two Husky runners in scoring position. Senior lefty Cole Gabriele (Mary Washington) started the game for Tuscarora and he also had to battle in his first inning, working around a leadoff double by junior centerfielder Ryan Askew and a walk to put up a scoreless first inning. For velocities and scouting information on Schroeder and Gabriele, check the Virginia/DC Scout Blog.

The second and third innings were also scoreless as Schroeder worked around a Gabriele single in the second when junior catcher Brandon Kelman caught his pinch runner trying to take second, Kelman’s second runner thrown out stealing in the game. Gabriele worked a perfect second and third as he settled in.

After three innings scoreless, the Husky bats woke up in the fourth inning. Senior catcher Noah Lacy (UVA-Wise) led the inning off with a triple to deep right center and senior third basemen Bryce Pearson drove him in with a triple of his own to open the scoring. Pearson then scored on a wild pitch to give Tuscarora a 2-0 lead in the middle of the fourth inning. Gabriele then followed that up with a scoreless fourth inning, working around a two-out walk. Gabriele’s final line on the day was 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K, and 2 BB.

Schroeder worked around a leadoff baserunner in the top of the fifth, which was his final inning of work. His line for the day was 5 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 4 K,and 1 BB. Pearson came in for the Huskies in the bottom of the fifth and threw a perfect inning with two strikeouts.

It was at this point in the game that things got out of hand fast for the Raiders. Lacy started the sixth inning off with a double down the left field line off of junior reliever Will Sokol. Tuscarora would then end up scoring ten runs in the inning, with junior pinch hitter Devin Welsh having two hits in the inning. Senior shortstop Dominick Marinelli cleared the bases later in the inning with a double off of the left field fence which was followed quickly by Lacy’s third extra base hit of the night as he doubled to left for the second time in the inning.

Pearson threw a scoreless sixth inning and the game came to an end with Tuscarora winning, 12-0. Gabriele earned the win and Pearson picked up a save. Schroeder was a tough luck loser for County despite throwing very well. Offensively for Tuscarora, Lacy went 3-4 with two doubles, a triple, and three runs scored. Pearson went 3-4 with a triple and three runs scored, and senior second basemen Joey Skov was 2-3 with a run scored. Gabriele and Pearson combined to allow just one hit in their shutout. For velocities and scouting information on players from this game, check out the Virginia/DC Scout Blog