Buffalo Gap softball team reaches VHSL semifinals

“I’m glad it ended the way it did,” said Talley, who plans to attend Randolph-Macon College in Ashland this fall. “It’s really sad. I’m going to miss this field and this group of girls, but I’m so happy it ended in a victory.”

Alger and Talley both hit homers Tuesday afternoon to lead the Bison past the Middlesex Chargers 4-0 in the Virginia High School League Class 1 softball state quarterfinals.

“We’re pretty excited right now,” said Talley, the Bison receiver. “It feels good to have made it this far this year. I couldn’t ask for much more.”

Buffalo Gap (17-3) will face Eastside, which beat Giles 7-0 on Tuesday, in the state semifinals at 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Botetourt Sports Complex in Troutville.

“I’m very proud of these girls,” said Buffalo Gap head coach Holly Desper. “They work hard from top to bottom. I like that about this group.”

This is the fourth straight season the Bison have reached the state semifinals. In 2021, Buffalo Gap lost 1-0 to Randolph-Henry. In 2022 and 2023, Buffalo Gap fell to Auburn, 3-0 and 1-0.

This year, Buffalo Gap doesn’t have to worry about Auburn, which lost 5-1 to Rye Cove on Tuesday. If the Bison win Friday, they advance to Saturday’s state championship against Rappahannock or Rye Cove.

“They’re ready,” Desper said. “They want it, and I hope we can continue.”

“I think we have a really good group of girls that are talented this year and have the will to win,” she said.

On Tuesday, the Bison and Chargers struggled to get going offensively through the first three innings.

“We might have come out a little slow, but it was just our nerves getting to us,” Talley said.

With the game tied 0-0, Alger got the Bison on the board with a solo homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning.

“We were going to get a hit,” Desper said. “I knew Caroline had it in her, and it only took one person to make that spark shine, and she did it for us.”

Alger, who plans to attend Christopher Newport University in the fall, said she knew it was a home run from the second she touched the ball.

“I knew she was going to throw me in, so I backed up a little,” she said. “I knew I had to do something for my team.”

Trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning, Talley hit a solo homer to center field to give the Bison a 2-0 advantage.

Later in the sixth inning, Hannah Coffman scored a run with a single to make it 3-0. Coffman scored the fourth and final point for Buffalo Gap on an error.

Alger pitched a complete game, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out 14.

“I was happy with the way I pitched,” she said. “I managed to reach my points and I was sharp tonight.”

“Caroline is always going to give her best and that’s what she did for us tonight,” she said. “Whatever we need, she will do, and she works hard, so I know we can count on her and put all that weight on her shoulders.”

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