The Mathews High School varsity baseball team advances to tonight’s Tidewater District championship game against King William High School after defeating Middlesex in Tuesday’s opening-round playoff game.

The second-seed Devils got the home-field advantage in the tournament semifinal, and that may have been the edge as Mathews defeated the visiting Chargers by one run, 2-1.

The Devils scored both of their runs in the third inning when Chris Davis walked, Daniel Mitchem hit a double to score him, and Ryan Ewell hit another double to bring Mitchem home. The Chargers threatened with one run in the fifth inning, but the Devils’ defense held tight after that. Leading the Mathews offense were Mitchem (1-for-3, double), Ewell (1-for-3, double), Paul Burnette (1-for-3), and Quentin Schafer (1-for-3, double).

Josh Wilson went six innings on the mound to get the win. Ewell came on in the seventh to pick up the save.

Tonight’s Mathews-King William game, unfortuna...