Photo by Jim Devinney
The Lord Botetourt baseball team is scheduled to open Region 3D play at home Thursday against Cave Spring. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
The Cavaliers come into the post-season with a 12-9-1 record after splitting their last two regular season games. The Cavaliers lost to Northside in 10 innings but bounced back to beat Franklin County.
The Northside game was at home, and LB fell 8-7 to the Vikings. The Cavaliers took a 7-2 lead into the sixth inning but Northside rallied for five runs in the sixth to tie the game. The Vikings then scored what proved to be the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th and LB left two on base in the bottom of the inning.
Botetourt senior Noah Donaho had a three-run homer in this game, giving him eight on the season. That’s a new single season record for Lord Botetourt High.
Garrett Lonker had two hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in three runs. Chase Peck started on the mound and pitched five and a third innings before the Vikings chased him in the sixth. Kobe Hairston pitched a third of an inning, Lonker got out of the sixth and pitched three more scoreless frames. and Brady Kish pitched the 10, getting tagged with the loss with one run allowed.
On Friday in Rocky Mount the Cavaliers won a slugfest against Franklin County, 15-11. Lonker started this one and picked up the win with five innings pitched, striking out nine. Ethan Taylor pitched the last two innings.
Botetourt lit up Eagle pitchers for 16 hits, including three by Chase Peck. Jairdan Pennix, Donaho, Lonker, Isaac Nichols, Gavin Walker, and Cameron Bailey all had two hits each, and Walker and Nichols each hit a home run.
The All-Blue Ridge District team was also announced this week. Donaho, Lonker and Kish made the first team while Peck, Nichols and Pennix were named to the second team.
