Upon Further Review

So Waynesboro heads down to Abingdon tonight for its Group AA quarterfinal game. If you don’t know where Abingdon is at, think the farthest place you’d travel to watch a high school baseball game, then add about another 30 miles. Yep, it’s that far.

So Little Giant skipper Jim Critzer was going to throw his boys in the batting cage at the KC today before leaving, stop at Subway to fill their bellies with some decent food (not fast-food junk) and try to keep his team focused for a trip that’s going to last half a school day in a rickety, vomit-inducing yellow school bus. Oh, and it will probably be hot on the bus, too.

Just think, if Waynesboro would have beaten Alleghany last Friday, they could be avoiding all of this and be playing at home.

Of course, that would mean Waynesboro would have to face Hidden Valley, a team that sports no less than three Division I signees.

Is there a sport, any sport, Hidden Valley is not good at? Please, somebody tell me. (And don’t forget to tell the Little Giants’ girls basketball team, you know, the group of girls that lost to the Titans in the Group AA title game back in March.)

So, here’s what we know about Abingdon (other than you take a left at Yokel’s Country Store and the high school field in on the right, we guess): The Falcons (what? you were expecting an original high school name in Virginia, the state that houses the most “Panthers,“ “Cougars” and birds of prey nicknames in the lower 48) won their first regional crown (Region IV) since 1987 by hammering out 32 runs on 37 hits against the Blue Ridge District’s top three seeds—Salem, Blacksburg and Hidden Valley (you know, the guys with three Division I signees).

We also know they must be riding high after a thrilling come-from-behind 11-10 extra-inning victory over Hidden Valley (you know, one, two, three Division I signees) thanks to a homer by Preston Pionk and sophomore Zach Witt pitching a scoreless ninth to lock the win.

Oh, and it was Pionk’s first homer. Ever. Not high school career, not on varsity, not at home, not on the road. His first homer ever.

Is it just me, or does Pionk sound like a ball hitting an aluminum bat?

After six games the Falcons were 2-4. They went 17-3 the rest of the way.

Including that big win over Hidden Valley (you know, three guys going DI and two guys slugged as “top prospects”).

But, hey, Critzer thinks his Giants are evenly matched with the Falcons. And good on him. Because if there’s one thing Waynesboro has proved this season, and yes, it sounds like a cliché, it’s that just when you think they’re dead, done, fin, they figure out a way to win. Whether it’s oh, I don’t know, on the base paths with junior speedster Terrell Thompson or freshman pitcher Drew DeMoss heading to the mound to mow down opponents.

Having Jay Thompson doesn’t hurt matters either.

Having Terrell Thompson and Eric Hall setting the plate for Waynesboro’s shortstop is a great recipe for victory as well.

So that leaves a few guys that need to continue their roll. Stevie Moreland needs to keep owning the hot corner with his much improved defense. And Will Freeman, who’s been on fire as of late, needs to, well, stay on fire.

Of course, Critzer knows all of this already, having preached that his boys need to keep playing their game if they want to, as senior lefty Jeremy Hahn put it, “finish it” this year.

Then there’s Josh Craig, Waynesboro’s first baseman who’s been down on himself as of late. At practice Monday, I asked Craig why he thinks his bat has slowed down after a red-hot second half of the regular season. He said he needs to have confidence in himself. Here’s hoping he gets it soon. You know, like tonight.

Critzer is going to toss Lucas tonight, that’s a great move by the coach. Lucas has been near untouchable all season and if the Giants want to get back to the Final Four, something tells me the junior lefty has the arm they should ride.

Of course, having Hahn and DeMoss in your back pocket is a good thing as well.

So, I’m wondering, if Waynesboro wins tonight, does Critzer go out and buy a new hat for the Final Four? Just asking.

OK, here’s the deal. I’m going to try to post inning-by-inning updates here on the blog or on the front page of our sports Web site. Don’t know what will be easier just yet. But check back often, we’ll keep you informed.

Oh, and remember, turn left at the Piggly Wiggly. The school’s up on the right.