CHANTILLY -- James River's semifinal victory produced plenty of highlights -- just not any that were easy to see.

Daniel Marrs fired untrackable fastballs in the upper 90s, and Austin Stadler sent a walk-off home run high into the midday sun that gave the Rapids a 2-1 extra-inning victory against Bethel.

"It gives you chills when you're rounding the bases," said Stadler, who will take the mound today. "That's why I keep playing the game. I love to be at bat in those situations."

The Rapids will try to defend their state title in today's 3 p.m. final against either Colonial Forge or Lake Braddock, and come into the game with a big advantage. Both possible opponents were rain-delayed on Tuesday, meaning Stadler will have more rest than the pitcher he faces.

Yesterday started as a pitchers' duel between Bethel sophomore Jack Maxey and Marrs, who came out firing.

"On a hot day you get out there and get loose, and it comes a little easier," Marrs said. "I felt like I could throw a few strong ones."

He had the Bruins batters guessing early and didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning. He was aided by catcher Jack Cleary, who let Marrs' signature fastball hit his glove each time with a loud pop.

"When you can make that noise with your glove, it feels good," Cleary said.

Marrs allowed just one run, but when the game remained tied after seven innings, Stadler came on to pitch the eighth, making him the winning pitcher in both the quarterfinal and semifinal round.

Stadler, a lefty, made Bethel batters adjust to a different look, and he struck out two in an easy inning of work.

"Marrs will throw it a little harder," Cleary said. "But Stadler has so much finesse. He just works hitters."

In the bottom of the eighth, James River's Eamon Schwartz singled to knock Maxey out of the game, but was then picked off by new pitcher Justin Shively.

That brought Stadler to the plate. The Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year has a flare for the dramatic, and he drew a loud gasp with his first swing -- crushing a ball that drifted foul just before the right-field foul pole.

"I missed it, and I thought, 'Man, I was out a little in front of it,'" he said. "I didn't know if I was going to get another one."

He did on the very next pitch, hitting a line drive that just kept rising, higher and higher -- lost in the sun until it was improbably seen on the other side of the 30-foot-tall fence in center field.

"I didn't think it had a chance of going out when it hit the bat," Stadler said. "It's just one of those things with metal bats where you're so happy to keep it going up and up."

The defending state champions now get one more game to show off the state's best players, Marrs and Stadler.

Just like last season, they've got a nice supporting cast, too. Including Cleary, who could feel the team's confidence before the game.

"He bumped shoulders with me before the game," Schumacher said. "And he told me, 'Coach, I just want you to know, we're going to win this game.'"

One more and the Rapids are once again state champs.
Contact Michael Phillips at mphillips@timesdispatch.com.

Bethel ------------------------- 000 010 00 -- 1 2 2
James River ------------------------- 000 010 01 -- 2 8 0

Maxey, Shively (8) and Wyatt; Marrs, Stadler (8) and Cleary. W: Stadler. L: Shively.

Records: Bethel 21-6; James River 20-5.