by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
Robert Oldham missed James River‘s dream ride to the region and state title last season with a torn up hamstring.
Friday night he was Cosby’s Achilles heel, driving in five of James River’s six runs in a 6-3 victory over the Titans for the Central Region baseball crown at RF&P Park.
Both squads advance to the state Group AAA tournament which begins Tuesday.
Cosby will travel to Colonial Forge (18-8), a 13-12 victor over Albemarle (18-7) in the Northwest Region championship, for a 6:30 p.m. tilt, while James River will stay home for the second straight season, hosting Albemarle to begin defense of its state title.
It’s because of guys like Oldham, the unsung Rapids, that allowed James River to defeat Cosby for the first time in three tries.
“Those first two games that we played against them weren’t really close,” James River coach Pete Schumacher said. “It was really important for them to prove to themselves that we can beat them. We’re a totally different team.
“Robert, I asked him to lay down a bunt [Thursday] and he does it perfectly. Then he hits a home run today. He’s a bright kid. He’s a smart kid. He’s just got to relax and he did that today.”
After Cosby took a 1-0 lead on Tadd Bower‘s RBI single in the first inning, Oldham delivered a three-run shot in the top of the third inning, driving in Austin Stadler (2 for 2, two walks) and Jack Cleary.
After Carter Brown‘s groundout enabled a run to score to make it 4-1 in the sixth, Oldham stepped up with the bases full of Rapids and delivered a two-RBI double.
“The guy in front of me, Daniel Marrs, struck out,” said Oldham, answering a question about his blast. “This season we’ve been talking about picking each other up. So I got in there, thinking I’ve got to pick my boy Daniel up, so I succeeded and I’m happy about that.”
Happy? The Rapids had to be elated with the effort from junior pitcher Jake Mathews. He gave up one earned run and three hits to a vaunted Titan lineup through six innings.
However, down 6-1 Cosby put together a rally. Bower doubled, Jake Lowery singled and Ryan Parker was hit by Mathews in the back with a pitch to load the bases.
Then a Mathews offering got away, allowing Bower to score from third.
Greg Moon‘s RBI groundout scored Lowery for a 6-3 lead, bringing tension and drama to the well-manicured stadium as one out later the dangerous Ronnie Shaban strolled to the plate as the tying run.
But Mathews got Shaban to groundout to terrific shortstop Brown to set off a Rapid celebration.
“We had the right people up,” said Cosby coach Tim Lowery of the Titans’ comeback attempt. “The kids played well. Congratulations to James River.
“I think it’s been a very rewarding year. They’ve got a big picture and [the region championship] was one of the goals, but the ultimate goal is still there.”
James River 000 301 2 – 6 8 1
Cosby 100 000 2 – 3 5 3
Mathews and Cleary; Ackerman and Lowery.
Records: James River (18-5); Cosby (18-3)
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