By Phillip Hines
MaxPreps.com
The Peninsula and Bay Rivers District tournaments are just weeks away with no clear path to the top for any team.
The Menchville Monarchs are heading the Peninsula, thanks in part to Shawn Sizemore's outstanding hitting and perfect 3-0 record on the mound.
In the Bay Rivers, Tabb is clinging to first place. Tiger pitcher Cody Brown owns the best pitching record in the district at 6-1.
Peninsula District (AAA)
Menchville still remains atop the Peninsula District standings, with the Hampton Crabbers and Bethel Bruins tied for second place just one game behind.
Hampton upset Menchville 5-4 last week, as Matt Shaffer improved to 3-3 on the season. Sean Fields and Ryan Trimble added two hits apiece for the Crabbers. Ethan Carter, one of the state's top pitchers, fell to 4-2 on the year with his new team after transferring from Denbigh. Carter did not receive much help as the Monarchs committed three errors, including a high throw to first base that allowed a Crabber runner to score.
Hampton followed its big win against Menchville with a 17-10 stomping of the Denbigh Patriots. Trimble improved to 5-0 on the season and added two hits.
The Monarchs stayed on pace for first place with a 10-0, five-inning victory over the Kecoughtan Warriors Saturday. Sizemore, an Old Dominion University signee, earned the win and went 2-for-3 with two doubles.
The Woodside Wolverines overcame a five-run deficit Saturday to beat the Heritage Hurricanes, 12-11. Heritage slugger William LaFontaine went 4-for-5 with two doubles.
The Gloucester Dukes and Woodside are tied at 7-5, with the Warwick Raiders trailing closely at 6-6 in district play.
Last year's season and regional champions, the Denbigh Patriots, have fallen to seventh place in the district. The Patriots miss ace pitcher Carter – now at Menchville – and legendary head coach Rusty Ingram.
Bay Rivers (AA)
The Bay Rivers District continues to be the most unpredictable in the area. The Tabb Tigers still remain the frontrunner, but suffered a 5-4 loss to the Smithfield Packers last week.
Cody Brown, who has signed to play at High Point University in North Carolina, has emerged as the ace for the Tigers with a 6-1 record. Adam McConnell and Davey Everheart are anchoring the Tiger offense, batting well over .400 on the season.
The Grafton Clippers (9-4-1) also felt the wrath of the lower part of the district. The New Kent Trojans, earning a reputation as upset kings, beat Grafton 7-4 with a game-changing, six-run sixth inning.
Grafton returned with a solid showing just two days later, beating the Southampton Indians, 11-0.
Smithfield and the Poquoson Islanders are the two hottest teams in the district right now.
The Islanders beat Smithfield 8-7 and are now in sole possession of second place, guaranteeing them a first-round bye in the district tournament.
Smithfield's responded with an 11-0 win over Warhill Saturday, a victory that included four home runs. Dustin Hornsby had this to say about his team's recent offensive surge, including four home runs in Saturday's 11-0 win against Warhill.
New Kent has ample chances to ruin Poquoson and Smithfield's hot streaks, as they play each team this week.
The Trojans knocked off the Lafayette Rams 9-8 last week and are 5-8 with a shot to sneak into the sixth and final playoff spot in the district tournament. Lafayette (7-6) is led on the mound by Jeff Wiggins, who is 5-2 on the year.
The Rams' offensive leader is Ryan Capelli, the younger brother of Lynchburg College junior infielder Ricky Capelli.
