Langley's Morrison Holds Off Woodson

Langley's Bryce Morrison couldn't have picked a better time to turn in his best varsity performance.

The junior right-hander limited W.T. Woodson to three hits in six innings, and his teammate, Jimmy Saris, drove in two runs for the Saxons, who held off the Cavaliers, 4-2, in a pivotal Virginia AAA Liberty District contest last night in Fairfax.

The victory moved the Saxons (16-3, 11-2) into a tie for first place in the district with the Cavaliers (14-5, 11-2) with one district game remaining for each team. Although both teams have earned byes into the semifinals of the district tournament and berths into the Northern Region tournament, the Saxons are not satisfied.

"We came into this game wanting to get that first seed -- it's been our goal all season," said Saris, who went 3 for 4 last night. "This win has us well on our way."

Morrison, who improved to 6-0, added: "I was definitely a little bit nervous because this is the biggest game I've pitched on varsity. I just stayed mellow, kept my pitches down and threw strikes."

In the teams' meeting last month, W.T. Woodson prevailed, 5-1, thanks to All-Met Mike Bianucci's four-hitter. Bianucci wasn't as fortunate last night.

Saxons' leadoff batter Chuck Eller was hit by a Bianucci fastball, then scored on a single by Saris to give Langley a 1-0 first inning lead. The Saxons extended their edge to 2-0 in the third inning when Daniel Brown, also hit by a pitch, scored on a pitch in the dirt.

The Saxons made it 3-0 in the fourth on an RBI single by Brown, who drove home Kyle Fraser. Morrison's only mistake was a pitch he left up in the strike zone in the sixth inning. Cavaliers senior Brian Kramer smashed it over the center field fence for a two-run homer that trimmed the Cavaliers' deficit to 3-2.

But it wasn't enough. Saris singled home Eller in the seventh to make the score 4-2, and came on in relief to close out the win.

"The best thing Bryce did tonight was after he gave up the homer, he settled down and got out of the inning," Langley Coach Jeff Ferrell said. "He's just a junior, in his first year on varsity, but he's pitched well for us all year. So I am not surprised with what he did tonight."