DILLWYN – A reprieve from Mother Nature and a tarp purchased by the Buckingham County Youth League prior to the District IV Minor League Tournament allowed play to resume in the rain-delayed tournament on Wednesday night.

The Amelia County All-Stars weren't as accommodating to the tournament hosts, as Amelia answered a game-tying rally in the top of the sixth inning with a walk-off run in the bottom of the sixth to win 9-8 and advance to Thursday morning's championship round against undefeated Goochland.

Amelia would need to defeat Goochland in the championship round game (scheduled to begin on Thursday at 10 a.m.) to force a winner-take-all game shortly thereafter.

In Wednesday night's game, Buckingham scored two runs in the top of the first, but gave up four runs in the bottom half of the inning due, in part, to errors and defensive miscues.

“Errors plagued us,” said BC manager Charlie Allen. “We had five by our infield and two by our outfield, depending on how the official scorer saw it.

“That said, I'm very proud of how our kids fought through it, got back in the game, and found a way to be there at the end. Their execution may have been a little off, but I can't complain at all about their effort. They gave it their all.”

Amelia led 7-2 after three innings, before Buckingham scored two in the top of the fifth to cut its deficit to 7-4.

Amelia added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, which proved to be bigger than originally thought.

T.J. Jones singled and Jackson Allen doubled to lead off the inning, and Delante Woodson reached base on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Jones scored when Amari Toney hit to first base on a fielder's choice, and Allen and Woodson later scored when Cameron Taylor reached base on an error. Taylor came home on a single by Jaquez Morton, but he was thrown out while trying for second base for the final out.

Tyler Moore, who had reached base prior to Morton's hit, crossed home plate just after the final out was recorded, leaving the game tied at eight runs apiece.

“That last mistake was on the adults,” said Allen. “It wasn't the kids' fault, at all. Making it even bigger, was that we had the top of our order coming back up to the plate.”

The change back in momentum gave Amelia new life, and after the leadoff batter reached on an infield error, a single knocked in the winning run.

“Though it was a little sloppy, it was definitely an exciting game,” said Allen. “Both teams battled through some tough spots, and showed great character. At this age, that's the biggest thing, really. The technical stuff will come with experience. Tonight, they showed they can handle adversity.”

District I Softball Darlings

Prince Edward Farmville's quest to successfully defend its District I Darlings championship is on hold until Saturday.

The heavy rains that have plagued the area will push the tournament that began on June 28 into the weekend.

Prince Edward Farmville remains undefeated in the tournament, and will need to play at least three games in order to win the tournament and advance to the Dixie Softball Darlings State Tournament to be held later this month.