Another undefeated state run, another World Series berth

Buckingham County baseball fans could get used to this.

For the second straight year, the Buckingham County Majors All-Star team has made the summer its own, again marching undefeated to a state championship and a berth in the Dixie Youth Baseball Major League World Series.

The 2018 team’s manager, John Toney, who was an assistant coach for the team last year, was thrilled with the achievement of his players, many of whom were part of the 2017 squad.

“It’s amazing, man,” he said. “These kids put in work every day, year-round. They love the game of baseball, and I love coaching them, and they listen well, and they come to practice every day ready to work, and it shows on the ballfield.”

It never showed more than it did Tuesday night at Gene Dixon Sr. Memorial Park in Dillwyn when Buckingham faced the Amelia Americans All-Stars in the championship round of the 2018 Virginia Dixie Youth Baseball Major League State Tournament.

Buckingham had never trailed at any moment during the tourney until Tuesday. Amelia, a team Buckingham had defeated 7-1 on Saturday, led the host team 6-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning Tuesday.

“The key was our kids showed a lot of heart to not get down on themselves when were down 6-0, to rally back,” Toney said.

His team scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth.

“Cam Newton hit a two-run homer, and Camden Allen hit a three-run homer, which put us in the lead, so that was huge,” Toney said.

Suddenly trailing 8-6, Amelia did not wilt under the pressure but instead tied the game in the top of the fifth.

Buckingham kept its offensive momentum going, though, and scored three more runs in the bottom of the inning.

“We shut them down in the top of the sixth to win 11-8 on a throw-out by (catcher) Nick Allen,” Toney said.

In addition Newton and Allen, Buckingham’s offense came from a variety of players.

“Justin Gunter got walked twice and had a base hit up the middle,” Toney said. “Rocco Raynor hit the ball well. Bubba Garceau, Nick Allen hit the ball well. Our whole lineup came through pretty well tonight.”

Buckingham won the state title game without its ace on the mound, Gunter. He had been key to the team advancing past the Charlotte County All-Stars on Monday. Daniel Farrish, Avery Schaeffer and Newton pitched Tuesday.

“Cam Newton finished the game out, actually got the win, because we went up 11-8, and he was on the mound for the fifth and sixth innings,” Toney said.

The manager made a point to highlight the role his coaching staff played in the team’s success, thanking Travis Hicks and Walter Edwards “for all their help, because they’ve been huge.”

Buckingham will return to action Saturday, Aug. 4, representing Virginia at the World Series in Lumberton, North Carolina. The team is slated to take on the Louisiana All-Stars at 8 p.m.