Photos by Leigh Downey
The James River girls completed a first week sweep of Parry McCluer in softball with a 15-5 win in Buena Vista Friday. The Knights had beaten the Blues earlier in the week in Springwood, 15-2, to open the season.
The Knights got first inning doubles from Caitlyn Downey, Sydnee Breeding and Ella Hutchens and a single from Keira Crawford to grab a 3-0 lead. In the third inning, River used six hits and a walk to score seven more runs to stretch their lead to 10-0. The frame was highlighted by another double from Downey and a triple by Hutchens.
Trailing 13-0 in the fifth, the Blues set the table with a walk, a hit batter and infield hit for a Logan Vest, base-clearing, triple to get on the board. They scored two additional runs on an error and a ground out. The Knights got two runs in the sixth and closed out the win.
Makenna Saville pitched five scoreless innings to gain her second win of the season, both against the Blues. Saville struck out three and walked one while allowing only two hits.
“We had a really steady pitching performance from Makenna Saville and outstanding defense,” said River coach Steve Austin. “We turned three double plays which stymied their offense.”
Downey and Breeding had three hits apiece for James River. Hutchens Crawford and Paige Shotwell had two hits. Downey, Breeding, Hutchens, Crawford, and Shotwell had two RBIs each.
River is off for spring break this week, returning with a home game against Waynesboro on Monday. They’re at Northside a week from today.
“We’re pleased to get off to a solid start but we have a lot of work to do,” said Austin. “We have to continue to figure out our line up and depth as we enter a challenging part of our schedule after break.”
