By James J. Lidington

ISLE OF WIGHT

Aidan Williams was 3-for-3 with a homer as Isle of Wight Academy (1-2) opened its 2019 baseball season with a 13-0 shellacking of Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot here on Thursday.

Williams also got the start and pitched 2-2/3 scoreless, hitless innings. He walked a batter and struck out three.

Andrew Holt came on in relief to earn the win. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out a pair. The duo allowed only two hits from the Knights, visiting from Powhatan.

Bryce Daniels was 3-for-3 with 3 RBI and scored twice.

IWA exploded for eight second-inning runs. Noah Colyer tripled to open the frame and Hunter Hayden followed with a walk. After Hayden took second base on defensive indifference, Daniels singled on a line drive to center, scoring Colyer and Hayden to make the score 6-0.

Boyce walked, advancing Daniels to second and Williams singled on a hard grounder to center, scoring Daniels and moving Boyce advances to second. Holt singled on a ground ball to shortstop, loading the based with Boyce at third and Williams at second.

Junior Cole Praither then grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Boyce and moving Williams to third; Holt was forced out at second base.

Connor Soady later singled on a hard ground ball to center, scoring Wiliams and Praither. Daniels singled on a hard grounder to center, scoring Colyer. Hayden drove in Soady with a line drive to right.

Boyce flied out to end the inning.

On Saturday, the Chargers dropped a pair of games, 12-1 to Highland School and 10-5 to Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, which hosted both contests.

Hayden was 4-for-4 in the tilt with Highland; Colyer was 2-for-3. Cole Praither scored IWA’s only run when he was driven home by Hayden in the fourth.

The Chargers left 11 runners aboard, committed five errors and were only outhit 10-8 by the visiting Hawks from Warrenton, Va.

IWA led N-SA 5-2 after the top of the fourth inning. Zack Stroud, Soady, Colyer, Hayden and Boyce each drove in runs during the inning.

But the Saints came marching back in their half of the inning, knotting the game at 5 by scoring thrice. Colby Owens and Rice all drove in runs in the frame.

Boyce took the loss for IWA allowing three hits and 5 runs, 3 earned, walking 3 and striking out a batter.

Owens got the win for Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, lasting three innings, allowing three hits and two runs. Boyce took the loss for IWA, allowing five runs on three hits and striking out one.

IWA returns to the diamond when they take on Norfolk Academy at home on Thursday, March 14. Game time is 4:30 p.m. in the team’s last game before the school’s spring break.

JAMES J. LIDINGTON teaches at Isle of Wight Academy. Contact him at 357-3866.