After their Tuesday home opener with Bassett was rained out the James River girls headed to Roanoke to take on Patrick Henry in softball last Thursday. James River took an early lead and held on for a 7-5 win.
“We don’t have many, if any, teams on our schedule that we can beat without a good performance,” said River coach Steve Austin. “We played very well, for the most part, and we earned a tough road victory.”
The Knights scored three runs in each of the first two innings to grab a 6-0 lead. In the top of the first Sydnee Breeding singled and Ella Hutchens walked. Keira Crawford then hit a ground rule double scoring the first run. Kaylee Harlow followed with a two-run single.
In the second inning, Caitlyn Downey worked a leadoff walk and scored from first base on a Breeding double. Hutchens followed with a single scoring Breeding. Crawford reached on a fielders’ choice and later scored on another Harlow single.
Patrick Henry got in the board in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run by Carlee Coleman. James River scored their last run in the fifth when Hutchens reached on an error and ultimately scored on Harlow’s third RBI single of the game to make it 7-1 in favor of the Knights.
The Patriots scored two runs in the sixth inning and, after a scoreless top of the seventh, PH sent seven batters to the plate for the second straight inning. The Pats scored two more runs but River was able to hold on for the win.
Knights’ pitcher Makenna Saville threw a complete game, scattering nine hits while striking out five and walking one. Three runs were earned.
Harlow had three hits and four RBIs to lead the Knights. Breeding had three hits, including two doubles, with two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base. Hutchens had a single, two runs, and an RBI. Crawford had a double, a run, and an RBI. Andi Kreklow also had a single for River.
“We got a really good pitching performance out of our senior pitcher, Makenna Saville,” said Austin. “She only threw 79 pitches, 61 of them strikes. We had a couple of bobbles in the seventh that tested us but Makenna’s steadiness helped us navigate through it. Paige Shotwell had the two big defensive plays in the seventh that were crucial, too.”
The Knights are back in action on Thursday for a 7 p.m. game at Liberty High. Next Tuesday, March 31, they go to Bassett before hosting Northside on April 1 for the home opener.
