Photos by Leigh Downey
James River pounded out 17 hits, including four home runs, when the Knights routed Class 3 Northside, 17-7, in Springwood last week.
Sydney Breeding hit a pair of two-run homers and a double to lead the Knights. Kaylee Harlow had a three-run homer and Cloey Joynes had a solo shot.
James River led the game, 5-2, going into the fifth inning, when the Vikings benefited from three hits and four walks to score five runs and take a 7-5 lead. The bottom of the fifth inning started out quietly for the Knights, with a groundout, walk, and a fly out, before a furious two-out rally ensued.
Breeding hit her second two-run homer to tie the game at 7-7. Joynes followed with a solo shot to put the home team back in the lead. Nine batters later, after five hits that included Harlow’s homer, and three walks River had plated nine runs, all with two outs.
“We showed our fight again with the big two-out rally in the fifth,” said River coach Steve Austin. “The home runs played a big part in the comeback. I don’t necessarily see us as team that will hit a lot of home runs, but we have that potential in spots throughout our line up.”
After holding Northside scoreless in the top of the sixth, James River scored three more runs in the bottom of the inning to walk off the Vikings by slaughter rule.
In addition to Breeding’s three hits, Caitlyn Downey, Ella Hutchens, Keira Crawford, Sierra Ware, Paige Shotwell and Harlow had two hits each. Makenna Saville and Joynes had one hit apiece.
Saville started on the mound while Ware came on in the fifth to pick up her first varsity win. Sierra pitched one inning before Saville returned to the circle to finish the game.
“We played pretty clean defense and turned two more double plays, I think we have seven or eight so far this year,” said Austin. “Those are huge for a team like us that has to get most of our outs off hit balls.”
With the win the Knights improved to 5-1 on the season and all five wins have been non-district. They’ll look to pick up their first Three Rivers District win this week as they play a home-and-home with Alleghany. River is at Alleghany on Thursday and the Cougars will return the trip for a 5:30 p.m. game in Springwood Friday.
