Central High School’s 2018 varsity baseball team played its way into school history, and I commend them for this achievement.

The last time the Chargers had reached the regional championship game and earned a state tournament berth was 1994 when they won the regional title and went 23-5 overall.

This year, the road was difficult for Central during the regular season in part due to temporary injuries to a couple of the team’s senior leaders. Much was expected of the Chargers, with six key players returning for their senior campaigns after helping the team go 17-5 in 2017.

But Central started 4-7 this year. Nevertheless, the Chargers proceeded to win six of their last eight regular season games to claim the No. 2 seed in Region 1B.

They faced No. 7 Cumberland County High School in the quarterfinals and led 1-0 after 2.5 innings, eventually winning by forfeit due to weather conditions and time.

Then came the big semifinal game, the result of which would decide whether or not the 2018 Chargers would make history. They hosted No. 3 William Campbell High School and lived up to all the hope invested in them, defeating the Generals 4-2 to advance to the regional title game and clinch a state tourney berth for the first time in 24 years. They narrowly finished as regional runners-up and went 12-11 overall.

I offer a special congratulations to Head Coach Michael Atkins and the Chargers’ six seniors: Noah Dunbar, Jeffrey Goodwin Jr., Christian Hall, Ethan Hoover, Nate Nowlin and L.J. Watson.

Titus Mohler is the sports editor for The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch and Farmville Newsmedia, LLC. His email address is Titus.Mohler@ KVDispatch.com.