The Blacksburg Wildcats couldn't have picked a better time to put it all together.

Dustin Byars scattered 10 hits and Chase Norman knocked in two runs as the Wildcats advanced to today's district championship with a 6-2 win over Abbeville on Monday.

The Wildcats travel to Batesburg-Leesville for a 5 p.m. game. The Wildcats must beat the Panthers twice to capture the district crown.

"I'm really proud of the kids," Blacksburg coach Toby Elliott said. "We seem to be coming together at the right time."

That's nothing new for the Wildcats, who have beaten the top two seeds in the district playoffs for the second straight year.

This time, Abbeville was the top-seeded victim. But the Panthers could never solve Byars, who struck out three and didn't walk a batter.

The Wildcats took the early momentum with a two-out rally in the first inning. After two groundouts, Rusty Price walked, stole second and scored on Gary Gaut's single. Gaut advanced to second on the throw home and moved to third on a passed ball. Norman knocked him in to put the Wildcats up 2-0.

Abbeville cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the inning on a Wildcat fielding miscue.

Blacksburg went up 3-1 in the fourth on Brent Humphries double and Byars' single to left.

The Panthers answered again in the bottom of the inning on Brett Bush's triple and Matt Ware's groundout.

The Wildcats extended their lead to 4-2 in the fifth on Price's double and Norman's single.

Blacksburg put the game away in the seventh when Gaut doubled and scored on a balk. Norman scored the final run on Will Raines' infield single.

Gaut will get the start today for the Wildcats.

PLAYOFF

MATCHUP

The Wildcats travel to Batesburg-Leesville today for the district championship. The Wildcats must beat the Panthers twice to advance to the upperstate tournament.

Gary Gaut will get the start for the Wildcats. The game will begin at 5 p.m.