Photos by Leigh Downey
Ella Hutchens hit a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the seventh inning to score Cloey Joynes as James River took a 13-12 victory over Lord Botetourt in an intra-county softball dual that didn’t end until after 10 p.m. Monday. The game was played at the Botetourt Sports Complex.
Botetourt jumped to an 8-2 lead in the top of the second but River rallied for three to make it 8-5. LB increased the lead to 10-5 but the Knights put seven on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 12-10 lead.
Both teams were scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, leading to some seventh inning drama. Sierra Ware, who gave James River five and two-thirds innings of solid relief pitching, got the first out in the top of the seventh before walking the top two hitters in the Cavaliers’ lineup. After falling behind 3-1 in the count on LB slugger Autumn Russell, River intentionally walked Russell with first base open to load the bases with one out.
LB’s Callie Kidd spoiled the strategy by singling in two runs to tie the game at 12-12. However, Ware bore down and got pop ups to shortstop and short right field to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh Olivia Pierce, LB’s third pitcher of the night, had struck out the first five batters she faced before allowing a two-out double to right field by Joynes. Hutchens followed with a clutch single for the 13-12 walk-off win.
Sydney Breeding, Joynes and Hutchens had three hits each for James River. Kaylee Harlow had two hits and Caitlyn Downey and Keira Crawford had one hit each.
Russell had two doubles, two walks and three RBIs to lead Lord Botetourt. Maya Mougin and Kidd also had two hits. Bailey Hutchins, Pierce, Abby Perkey, Gracie Sargent and Riley Sink had one hit each for the Cavs.
“I’m just elated at the fight our kids showed, especially after falling behind 8-2 before we had our second at bat,” said River coach Steve Austin. “Lord Botetourt is talented and they hit the ball so well. The pressure is always on but we stayed in it to the end and found a way to win.”
The Knights elevated their record to 7-4 with the hard-fought victory. Lord Botetourt fell to 6-6 with the loss.
Both teams also had games last week. Botetourt lost at Franklin County on Friday, 4-2. The Knights lost at home to Patrick County, 12-2, but bounced back to beat Patrick Henry in Roanoke, 11-6.
This week LB will host Cave Spring on Thursday in Daleville, then travel to Staunton River Friday for a jayvee-varsity doubleheader. River was scheduled to play at Floyd Tuesday, followed by a non-district game at Waynesboro Thursday.
