Sports

Baseball: Cougars to Resume Tourney Game Tonight

Oakton leads Chantilly 5-3 after 4 1/2 innings

UPDATE: The Cougars defeated the Chargers 5-3 on Wednesday more than 24 hours after starting the game. 

A lightning delay postponed the first-round Concorde District Tournament game until Wednesday night, resuming the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

R.J. Garcia continued in relief, holding the Chargers to the three runs they posted in the second and third innings Tuesday.

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The Cougars will face the Westfield Bulldogs at 6 p.m. Friday at Westfield High for the Concorde District Tournament semifinals. 

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After lightning cut short the first round Concorde District Baseball Tournament game between Oakton and Chantilly on Tuesday, officials have decided the game will resume at 6:30 p.m. today.

The Cougars will look to maintain the 5-3 lead they hold over the Chargers after 4 1/2 innings. 

The Chargers compiled their three runs over the second and third innings, capitalizing on five hits off starting pitcher Matt Gregor, a junior. In the bottom of the third inning, the Cougars loaded the bases with one out only to have the Chargers' starting pitcher Caleb Reinhardt strike out the next two batters to leave the runners stranded.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cougars scored all five of their runs. Mitchell Carroll started the inning with a line drive single. Dale Good then ripped a line drive single to center field, which the outfielder bobbled to put the runners at second and third. Conor Flanagan hit a line drive single for an RBI, which Tyler Carroll followed with a squeeze bunt for an RBI single to put the Cougars down 3-2 with no outs. 

Two batters later, Kyle Burger placed a bunt down the third base line to load the bases with one out. Before the first pitch to Joe Bartosic, Reinhardt balked, which scored the tying run. Bartosic then hit a line drive that ricocheted off the pitcher's knee, allowing all runners to arrive at their bases safely and give the Cougars a 4-3 lead. 

Mason Hauser scored the Cougars final run of the inning with a sacrifice bunt to put the scoreboard at 5-3.

R.J. Garcia, who relieved Gregor at the start of the fourth inning, earned three outs in four batters to give the Cougars the edge before lightning put the game in a delay.

At about 9 p.m., officials called it a night with coaches and players uncertain whether 4 1/2 innings, like in the regular season, constituted an official game in the playoffs.

Earlier today, both teams were notified a full seven innings will be completed at 6:30 p.m. today at Oakton High.

Check this story later for an update on the outcome.


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