REGION 2D BASEBALL: Gage Hylton guides Richlands to landmark victory over Union (copy)
Gage Hylton of Richlands celebrates after the Blue Tornado defeated Union 8-6.
Union's Eli Pleasant picks up the ground ball against Richlands on Thursday.
Union's Braxton Bunch swings at a pitch against Richlands during the Region 2D Quarterfinals.
Union's Liam Skeen throws a pitch against Richlands on Thursday.
Union's Kylan Long dives safe across home plate as Richlands' Gabe Gillespie reaches for the tag
Richlands Blake Fuller gets the out at second base on Union's Braxton Bunch.
Richlands' Gabe Gillespie tags Union runner Kam Bishop at home plate in the Region 2D Quarterfinals.
Richlands celebrates after their 8-6 win over Union Thursday at UVA-Wise.
Richlands Gage Hylton throws the ball to first base for an out against Union.
Union's Collyn Neff pitches in the Region 2D Quarterfinals against Richlands.
Gage Hylton of Richlands dives around Union catcher Keith Chandler to score a run.
Union's Kam Pfieffer throws the ball to second for an out against Richlands on Thursday.
Richlands' Max Herndon gets the out on Union runner Austin Stidham.
Union's Keith Chandler swings for a hit against Richlands on Thursday afternoon.
Richlands Gage Hylton throws a pitch against Union on Thursday.
Riley Perkins of Richlands celebrates with Reed Ratliff (5) after scoring for the Blue Tornado in the Region 2D tournament.
Richlands Riley Perkins swings for a hit against Union Thursday at UVA-Wise.
Richlands' Max Herndon swings for a hit against Union at UVA-Wise.
WISE, Va. – Richlands baseball player Gage Hylton was in lockdown mode on Thursday afternoon and that spelled trouble for the Union Bears.
With his arm and bat, the fiery 5-foot-9 junior helped engineer an 8-6 upset victory for the Blue Tornado in the opening round of the Region 2D playoffs at UVA Wise.
“There was a lot of emotion facing a good team like Union and I gave it all my all,” Hylton said. “ We haven’t had a season like this in a long time.”
According to fourth-year Richlands head coach Ben Brown, the last regional playoff victory for the Blues came over a decade ago.
“I can’t even remember the last time Richlands won a regional game under this format, but it been at least 12 years,” Brown said. “We’ve been right on the brink in the playoffs the past two years and we made it happen today.”
The cast for Richlands features six senior starters.
“We knew this group was going to be good when they were freshmen, but it took a while for things to build,” Brown said. “Winning just doesn’t happen.”
Hylton drove in two runs on two hits from the leadoff position and earned the decision for his five innings of relief work on the mound.
“We knew that everybody considered us as the underdog, but we showed what we can do. This win means everything,” Hylton said.
Hylton worked overtime. With the help of his defense, the third-year starter navigated out of several jams and overcame the pain from a line drive to the thigh late in the game.
“There was no way I was coming out,” Hylton said.
Behind hard-throwing sophomore pitcher Liam Skeen, Union built a 4-0 lead after three innings. Skeen recorded seven strikeouts, including six in a row at one point.
Then came the fourth inning.
As Skeen struggled with his control, Richlands crafted an eight-run rally on four hits, three walks, one error and one hit batter.
Senior Max Herndon kicked off the fun for the Blues with a leadoff double.
In between Union miscues, Hylton provided a two-single, Bradley Fuller followed with a run-scoring single and Herndon came back around in the lineup for a single.
“This was the first time that we really battled back from a deficit against a good team,” Brown said. “We got the energy going in the fourth inning and it was contagious.”
Brown wasn’t surprised that Hylton emerged as the hero.
“In his first game as freshman, Gage came in as a closer on the mound,” Brown said. “Gage just has a winning mentality and I wanted him on the mound late in today’s game.”
Skeen left the contest in the fourth inning after allowing a total of four walks and seven runs.
Union (16-7) collected a total of 11 hits, with Skeen, senior Keith Chandler and Kylan Long all delivering two.
“Baseball is a funny game,” Union coach Dave Wyrick said. “Richlands put a big inning together and we just couldn’t stop the bleeding. Tip your hat to Richlands.”
Chandler generated some suspense in the sixth inning with a two-run single. But the Bears left the bases loaded with a ground out to Hylton.
“I’m proud of my guys for fighting back,” Wyrick said.
Riley Perkins, the No. 9 batter in the Richlands lineup, drove in two runs.
Richlands (12-9) will face Lebanon (16-8) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the regional semifinals at Doc Adams Field in Lebanon.
“We all put in the work for this,” Hylton said.
Richlands 000 800 0-8 7 2
Union 031 002 0-6 11 1
Ryder, Hylton (2) and Gillespie. Skeen, Wagner (4), Neff (4) and Chandler. W-Hylton. L-Skeen. HR-none.
agregory@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Greg_BHCSports | (276) 645-2544
