The 2018 Buckingham County Majors All-Star team remained undefeated when it pulled away from the talented Charlotte County All-Stars on Monday night to advance to the championship round of the Dixie Youth Baseball Major League State Tournament in Dillwyn.

Buckingham was set to face the Amelia Americans All-Star team Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a rematch of their Saturday game, which Buckingham won 7-1. With a win Tuesday, Buckingham would claim the state crown and advance to the World Series in Lumberton, North Carolina.

Through four games in the state tourney at Gene Dixon Sr. Memorial Park, Buckingham had outscored its opponents 37-8. Charlotte County had posed the strongest challenge to Buckingham if the scoreboard is any indication, falling only 3-1 in their opener Friday.

Buckingham kept Charlotte County’s all-stars at bay both Friday and Monday thanks to the outstanding pitching of ace Justin Gunter.

Gunter threw 15 strikeouts in five-plus innings Friday and nine strikeouts in four innings Monday.

After Monday’s game, Buckingham Manager John Toney said, “I’m glad we didn’t need him for the whole game this time because we hit the ball well again, made the routine plays, for the most part.”

Gunter helped in a big way on offense Monday, hitting a solo home run and a two-run homer during his team’s 13-4 victory.

“Wyatt Bickford had a big hit at the end,” Toney said. “Avery Schaeffer, I know he had some good (at-bats). Nick Allen went 2-for-2. Cam Newton had a big hit.”

Buckingham was entering the contest fresh off a 14-2 win in four innings Sunday against the Clarksville All-Stars.

“We played very well,” Toney said of the Sunday game. “Avery Schaeffer pitched the ball really well. … We finally woke the bats up in that game.”

Gunter hit a homer, Rocco Raynor went 3-for-3, Jake Carter also hit a home run, and Newton’s three-run shot ended the game.

In Buckingham’s first meeting with Amelia, Daniel Farrish pitched the entire game, throwing a two-hitter with seven strikeouts.

A key to Buckingham’s success is its remarkable depth on the mound.

“We’ve got 12 pitchers,” Toney said. “That’s very rare to see 12 people that can throw at this age group.”