FPD takes down Stratford in scrappy second-round playoff series thanks to timely hitting

Greg Moore had broken the postgame huddle, and his FPD players began assorted field duties.

Just beyond third base, Barry Veal talked with his Stratford players for a good bit longer.

There was a lot to say, for both teams.

Underdog Stratford took FPD through five scoreless innings, holding its own against Conner Strandmark, one of the area’s top pitchers.

But just like that, a grand slam by Major Simmons highlighted a huge bottom of the sixth, and FPD won the opener of their GIAA Class 4A second-round series 7-1 Friday in what was a pitchers’ duel, except for about three pitches.

Unfazed, the Eagles answered FPD’s three-run third and one-run fourth in the nightcap, but stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to fall 6-5.

“We talked about, ‘Let’s stay in the game and give ourselves a chance to win late,’” Veal said. “And both games, we did that. I know the first game is going to look (worse), but (it was) nothing to nothing in the sixth inning.

“FPD’s a really good team, but we felt like we had every chance to win, and that’s all I can ask. They played their hearts out.”

The Vikings — who host either Bethlehem Christian or Athens Christian next week — move on with a 28-4 mark while the senior-free Eagles finish at 19-14.

FPD got Stratford’s best in a pair of gutty performances, but the Vikings had just enough answers.

Hayden Camps and Strandmark put on a pitching show in the first game with five shutout innings.

McHugh sent the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth over the fence in left, and nobody would’ve been surprised at a 1-0 win.

Two singles, a sacrifice, and hit batter followed to load the bases. Strandmark’s sac fly to left brought in a run, as did a single and a walk.

At that point, 3-0 was a pretty good lead.

Simmons eliminated the suspense by taking the first pitch over the wall in right — onto the soccer field, on which the Vikings’ girls soccer team was amid pounding George Walton 9-0 — for a slam, and the game.

Stratford did battle for a run in the top of the seventh, but any comeback was highly doubtful against Strandmark.

“I’ll bet the house on Conner,” Moore said. “He’s kind of become our cornerstone guy. He’s very confident. Been there and done that.”

Camps allowed seven hits — four coming in the fateful sixth — in the loss, with two strikeouts and three walks. Strandmark surrendered five hits, while striking out seven with two walks.

When FPD took a 1-0 lead after one in the nightcap, it was easy to assume that the first-game loss might’ve taken a lot out of Stratford, an assumption that grew after a three-run third.

Wrong assumption.

Stratford answered with three runs, all coming with two outs, and thanks to a throwing error and two wild pitches.

So FPD got one back in the fourth for a 5-3 lead, aided by an error, only for the Eagles to counter on two walks and an error, though they got a little greedy and ran into the third out on the play.

A single from Ellis Bridges and triple by Jaxen Justice tied it in the bottom of the sixth.

But the top seed and hosts got their first two batters on in the seventh, on an error and single. Left fielder Tate Johnston came within inches of a catch on Graham Martin’s shot, close enough for runners to delay advancing.

The throw to third bounced away, and McHugh raced home, diving and getting a hand on the plate while avoiding a waiting tag.

Well, not from Veal’s standpoint, because he argued.

“The throw beat him by 10 feet,” Veal said. “(Ump) said he didn’t tag him, or something. I don’t even know what he said.”

McHugh came back to the dugout to clarify.

“He said he was safe,” Moore said. “He swore he was, yeah. He pulled his arm, he swam the tag.”

As was par for the day, it wasn’t over. On came shortstop and pitcher Keon Johnson in hopes of getting another save.

It took awhile.

Davian Hammonds singled, and then Tucker Johnston chopped a slow roller to second base. But shortstop McHugh was slow to corral it, allowing Hammond to reach second safely. And his throw pulled first baseman Martin off the bag.

Camps walked one strikeout later to load the bases, but Johnson got Bridges to fly out safely to right.

It was a tough loss for Stratford, but an inspiring effort.

“You know, 19 wins with the schedule played is a great season,” said Veal, who has only two juniors. “But it could’ve been better. That’s what we’re hurting for.”

The Vikings came up clutch in the first game and held on in the second, thanks to a variety of key plays and pitches.

“Listen, Stratford is playing really good,” Moore said. “Some kids are hitting the ball, I thought Camps did a really nice job in Game 1, we couldn’t knock him out. They pound out another hit or two, we lose that (second) ballgame.

“The kids hung in there. You’re playing a rival, you’re trying to go to the Final Four. There’s pressure.”