Baseball: Heritage Upsets Liberty on The Road in Region II Playoffs

(May 29, 2012) - The Heritage High School baseball team didn't let its sub .500 record bother them Monday in the Region II first round and the Pride didn't let a 5-1 deficit after three innings or 6-2 deficit after four innings get them down as the Pride fought back, scoring three runs in the seventh for an 8-6 upset over Liberty.

Zack Hopeck, not only picked up the win for Heritage on the mound, but drove in the tying run and Dan Robinson had a 3-RBI night including the game-winning 2-RBI double.

The Pride, now 12-12, look to continue their playoff run tonight at Dulles District regular-season champion Potomac Falls at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

Woodgrove tried to make it another big road win but the Wolverines fell in 10 innings at Monticello, 4-3. The intriguing game featured an extra innings triple play turned by Monticello.


Heritage pitcher Zack Hopeck kept the Pride in the game despite some early defensive hiccups. Heritage trailed 2-1 after the first, and 5-1 after 3 innings. Junior Camden Abbey jump started the Pride offense in the 3rd with a solo blast to right center.

Liberty bounced back with a run in the bottom of the 4th to take a 6-2 lead. Sophomore Tyler Richards hit a pinch hit double to open up the 6th inning. Junior Matt Chapman then drove in a run with a single up the middle, before things got interesting after consecutive Liberty strikeouts, as Abbey was intentionally walked. Senior Dan Robinson laced a double to left field to score Chapman.

The ball bounced Heritage's way in the 7th as sophomore Nick Fuhrmann was walked, and sophomore Austin Wood reached on an infield hit while attempting to sac bunt. Matt Chapman found a hole for an infield single to load the bases. Hopeck helped his cause and drove a ball to deep center to tie the game.

Abbey was intentionally walked again, and Robinson made Liberty pay, driving in 2 with line drive single past the 3rd baseman. Nick Fuhrmann came in for the save, striking out 2 in the 7th, securing the win for Heritage. 

Zack Hopeck WP (8-2), 6IP, 6R, 3ER, 8H, 3BB, HP, 6K
Nick Fuhrmann S (1), 1IP, 0R, BB, 2K

Offensively for the Pride:
Lorenzo Calderon 1-5, RBI
Zack Hopeck 0-3, Sac Fly, BB, RBI, R
Camden Abbey 2-3, 2b, HR, 2 Int. BB, R, RBI
Dan Robinson 4-4, 2B, 3RBI, BB
Brandall Peters 1-5, RBI
Nick Fuhrmann 1-3, 2R, BB
Austin Wood 1-2, BB, 2R
Tyler Richards 1-1, 2b
Matt Chapman 2-3, BB, 2R, RBI

Baseball
Region II Tournament
First Round
Heritage 8, Liberty 6
Monticello 4, Woodgrove 3 (11)


Quarterfinals
Heritage at Potomac Falls, 6 p.m.

Millbrook at Powhatan, 6 p.m.

Monticello at Sherando, 7 p.m.

Loudoun Valley at Kettle Run, 6:30 p.m.