WINCHESTER — The James Wood High School baseball team may have hit a speed bump earlier this month, but the Colonels haven’t let that get in the way of stringing together another win streak.
Despite getting out-hit, Wood defeated Millbrook 4-2 at Bridgeforth Stadium on Thursday for its third straight win and 13th win over the last 14 games.
The four hits for the Colonels (15-3, 6-1 Class 4 Northwestern District) were two fewer than Millbrook’s six. The four-hit performance was also the lowest single-game hit total for Wood since its 23-0 win over Manassas Park in late March — Wood had four hits and was walked 21 times in that game.
Helping offset Wood’s hitting were three Millbrook (7-10, 2-4) errors, two of which directly resulted in runs.
The four-hit outing was far from what Wood coach Adrian Pullen had come to expect from his team, but it was enough.
“We didn’t play well, but we persevered,” Pullen said. “We found a way to win.”
Thursday’s contest began with what James Wood has experienced often this season — hot starts.
Wood leadoff hitter Logan Bower chopped a triple to right field in the top of the first. On the next at-bat, Tyler Prusik hit an RBI groundout to bring Bower home and give his team a 1-0 lead.
Wood extended its lead in the next frame with two outs on the board when Brady Smith reached first on an error by the Millbrook third baseman. That sequence allowed Owen Neal to reach home for a 2-0 lead.
Millbrook tied the game in the third after a Mason Reich RBI single and a Devin Reid RBI groundout. But like the second run of the game, an error ended up giving Wood another score.
In the top of the sixth, Smith reached first on another Millbrook error, allowing Neal to come home and give his team a 3-2 lead. Cade Cornwell then extended the advantage to two runs when he hit a pinch-hit RBI single to center field.
And on an off night at the plate for his team, Parker Kerns buoyed the Colonels with a complete game on the mound. The sophomore right-hander finished with seven strikeouts while giving up six hits and one walk.
“He did what Parker does,” Pullen said. “It’s go out there and be a bulldog and fight through it.”
Pullen made a few visits to Kerns throughout the evening. Those visits wound up being beneficial for Kerns, who retired nine of the last 11 batters.
Kerns immediately gave credit to Pullen for his performance.
“He gets you in the right mindset,” Kerns said. “Like, if you’re out of things and the attitude is not right, he sets you straight. It’s great encouragement.”
The Colonels’ only loss since March 26 was a 3-2 loss to Fauquier on May 7.
Why has Wood been able to stay hot for so long? Kerns believes it’s all about gelling together.
“We just got good team chemistry,” Kerns said. “I mean, everybody’s picking each other up. We’re getting hits, stringing things together. We’ve got great awareness in the late innings to come back and score runs when we need it.”
Pullen had similar thoughts as to why the Colonels have been firing on all cylinders.
“We’re a good team that works together,” Pullen said. “We’re not leaning on one or two guys every night. We’re gonna let the whole lineup [make an impact]. When somebody’s down, somebody else is gonna pick it up and do it.”
Wood defeated Millbrook 7-0 on Monday. In that game, the Pioneers recorded just one hit.
In coach Scott Jenkins’ mind, the Pioneers’ six hits on Thursday were far more reflective of his team’s potential.
“Even though it was a loss, probably the most complete game we put together all year,” Jenkins said.
While Millbrook couldn’t muster enough timely hits, Jenkins was glad to see his team keep pace with the top team in the Region 4D North standings.
“We hit balls hard all night long, and things just didn’t fall for us,” Jenkins said. “And that’s why we love and hate the game of baseball.”
Millbrook was led by Reich (1 for 3, RBI) and Reid (RBI, walk, 7.0 innings, 12 strikeouts).
Wood will be back in action on Friday when it visits Handley. Millbrook will host Sherando on Tuesday.
— Contact Justin Robertson at jrobertson@winchesterstar.com
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