2 big innings help Underwood upend Williamsburg in Class 2A state baseball quarterfinal

CARROLL — Williamsburg’s postseason run was impressive.

The Raiders knocked off two ranked foes to reach the state tournament for the fourth time and the first since 2013. Unfortunately, the season trek came to an end, instead of a third upset.

No. 2-seed Underwood scored all of its runs in two innings and Garrett Luett provided a strong performance on the mound in a 7-2 victory over Williamsburg in a Class 2A state baseball quarterfinal Tuesday night at Merchants Park. The Eagles (24-3) advance to the semifinals against No. 7 Cascade Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

“It was great to get up here,” Williamsburg Coach Nathan King said. “I am really happy for our 10 seniors that they were able to experience this because a lot of them have been playing for three or four years.”

The Raiders close their campaign at 20-20. They weren’t prepared for this to end but it doesn’t overshadow their accomplishment.

“It’s unbelievable,” Williamsburg senior Landon Jepsen said. “Beating No. 10 Pleasantville and No. 8 West Marshall to get here was a huge step.

“We really came together on a team. ... It’s been a great year.”

Sophomore Cael Moore credited that large group of seniors for making the season memorable.

“It’s been awesome,” Moore said. “The seniors are great. They’ve been great leaders. That’s why we’re here.”

Underwood jumped on the Raiders early. Mason Boothby drew a lead off walk in the first. A stolen base put him in scoring position. Jack Vanfossan and Luett followed with RBI singles with Boothby and Vanfossan scoring.

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Easton Robertson reached on a fielder’s choice and reached second as the Raiders threw out Luett at the plate, attempting to score from third on the grounder to second baseman Gavin Jensen. Robertson stole third and scored on a wild pitch on a dropped third strike to Gus Bashore.

Williamsburg answered with a run in the third. Moore roped a one-out double to right field. After a Trey O’Neil walk, Sam Rich’s hot shot to second was misplayed, which allowed Moore to score.

The Raiders added another in the fourth. Jepsen’s RBI double scored Rayce Heitman.

“Right-side approach is what we’ve been taught,” Jepsen said. “Right field was wide open. I took a stab at it.”

Sandwiched between Williamsburg’s one-run frames was a four-run outburst by the Eagles. They erupted for four runs, getting a bases-loaded infield single from Bashore and a two-run single from Nick Hackett for a 7-1 advantage through three complete.

A wild pitch on a dropped third strike and Hackett’s ensuing hit qas a dagger to the Raiders.

“They came out swinging tonight and put three on us early,” King said. “They got the big one there with passed ball/wild pitch and then the big hit at the bottom of the order to break it open.”

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Photos: Williamsburg vs. Underwood in state baseball quarterfinals

Luett notched the win and improved to 8-0. He pitched five innings, allowing two runs, one earned, and struck out eight. Luett also led the Eagles with two hits.

Vanfossan pitched two innings of relief.

Both teams managed six hits. The Eagles were able to bunch theirs together, while the Raiders’ hits were mostly scattered.

“We just never got that big hit,” Moore said. “They got more runners on base and the bigger hits.”

The Raiders also received singles from Rich, Nile Sinn and Gavin Jensen. O’Neil pitched 6 2/3 innings, coming out when he surpassed the 110-pitch limit. He gave up seven runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.

“Trey is our guy,” King said. “We knew we were going to get that out of him. We believe we can beat anybody with him on the mound. We just came up short tonight.”

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