Halifax County held on for a 7-4 win over the Patriots, after some drama in the top of the seventh on Monday.

Tyler Molinaro crushed a Matt Edwards curveball over the right field fence for a three-run homer to lead Albemarle past the Eagles, 5-3.

The Patriots answered with an 8-run rally of their own in the bottom half of the inning, before going on to win 11-7.

It was a serendipitous twist of fate that brought the 2008 All-Central Virginia baseball coach of the year together with his overachieving Albemarle team. And while the Patriots’ season ended on their bus rather than on the diamond, the foundation is set for a return trip to the state tournament.

In spite of the discussion, the VHSL ultimately decided to call the game after just four and a half innings of play, but not until both teams were well on their way home.

Albemarle got at least one hit from everyone in the lineup and rallied from a five-run deficit in the final inning to knock off Halifax 12-10 and move on to the Northwest Region semifinals on Wednesday.

A veteran lineup combined with a strong pitcher proved to be the one-two punch that Colonial Forge needed to get past Albemarle in a Commonwealth District matchup Wednesday night.