Photos by Leigh Downey
The James River softball team is home to host Class 3 Northside today after splitting two games last week. The Knights won at Northside, 12-10, but lost for the first time this season when they fell to Floyd County at home on Friday, 4-3.
Last Wednesday in Roanoke County, River jumped ahead, 2-0, in the first inning on a Caitlyn Downey walk, a Sydnee Breeding RBI double and a Cloey Joynes RBI single. River upped the lead to 5-0 before the Vikings scored four in the fourth to cut the lead to one at 5-4.
James River pushed across a run in the top of the fifth to go up 6-4. Then Northside used four hits and a walk in the bottom of the fifth to score three runs and grab a 7-6 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning Downey doubled to deep centerfield and Breeding hit a long home run to left center to quickly put the Knights back on top, 8-7. Singles by Joynes, Ella Hutchens, Keira Crawford, and Kaylee Harlow led to three more runs and a 11-7 advantage.
The home squad responded with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 11-10 but the Knights got an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI double by Breeding. Northside left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.
Breeding finished with four hits, Downey and Joynes had three each and Hutchens, Crawford and Harlow had two hits each for a total of 16. Makenna Saville was the winning pitcher, going five and two-thirds innings before Sierra Ware threw an inning and a third to pick up the save.
“We had a very positive start to the game,” said River coach Steve Austin. “The strange and uncharacteristic bottom of the fourth inning really woke them up, but the quick start, our determination and our resilience helped us weather the storms.”
Last Friday in Springwood Floyd County got out of the gate quickly with a three run first inning and carried that momentum to a 4-3 win over River. The Buffalos used three singles, a walk, an error and a sacrifice fly to build the quick lead and that set the tone of the game.
River pitcher Saville settled down and only allowed three hits and five baserunners in the final six innings. After throwing 23 pitches in the first inning, Saville recovered in spectacular fashion, throwing just 46 pitches in the final six innings. She didn’t strike out anyone but only walked two and allowed three earned runs.
Joynes led the Knights with two hits, both singles. Downey, Crawford, and Paige Shotwell had one hit each.
“We had a tough start, but I am pleased with how we responded,” said Austin. “We never quit and we chipped away, we just didn’t hit the ball well enough to win. We’re still figuring a lot of things out so it’s hard for me to be anything other than optimistic. That being said, it’s hard not to feel that we missed a good opportunity to win today.”
After tonight’s home game with Northside the River girls will head to Hillsville Friday for a Three Rivers District game with Carroll County. River is now 4-1 counting a forfeit win over Waynesboro.
