Trailing 10-8 after four innings, the Lord Botetourt baseball team scored five runs in the fifth inning and 10 runs in the sixth to pull out a 23-12 slaughter-rule win over county rival James River last Thursday in Springwood.
This game “featured” 28 walks and three hit batters and lasted well into the night. James River scored 12 runs on just three hits while LB had 23 runs on eight hits in a game that lasted over four hours.
“It’s always good to play the county rivalry,” said River coach Chance Henry. “This was honestly just a wild ride and I felt good with our level of compete. We hung with a tough team for most of the game, we just ran out of gas in the end. The longest, wackiest game I’ve ever been a part of in my high school coaching or playing career.”
Botetourt jumped on top with three runs in the top of the first. River scored one in the bottom of the inning, then hung six on the board in the second for a 7-1 lead. LB tied the game at 7-7 in the top of the third but River scored three more in the bottom of the third and led 10-7 after three innings.
When Botetourt scored five in the fifth inning and River scored two the score was 13-12 in LB’s favor. The Cavs then put it away with 10 in the top of the sixth.
“Basically, we just made more mistakes than LB did,” said Henry. “Cam Saunders did a good job of competing with a tight zone and if we made a few more plays behind him his line would’ve looked a lot better and he could’ve carried us a little longer.”
Photos by Brian Hoffman
Of Lord Botetourt’s 23 runs, only six were earned. River’s Saunders started on the mound and Colt Cook, Colton Payne and Ben Lawson also saw time on the bump. Cook was tagged with the loss despite allowing no earned runs. Swisher Cook picked up the win for LB in relief of Kobe Hairston, who gave up seven unearned runs. Brady Kish pitched a scoreless sixth.
“It was quite an experience,” said LB coach Todd Smith. “I’m proud of our guys for answering.”
Botetourt was back on the diamond a night later at Franklin County for a 9-8 win over the host Eagles. LB led 8-0 and had to hold on as Franklin had the potential winning runs on base when the game ended. Garrett Lonker started and struck out 10 in four and two-thirds innings to pick up the win. Beau Lonker had four hits and Jairdan Pennix had three.
On Monday the Cavs made it three in a row, all on the road, with an 11-10 win over Pulaski County at Calfee Park. Again LB jumped out to an early lead and had to hold on. The Cavs led 11-4 after six and a half innings but the Cougars scored six in the bottom of the seventh and had the potential tying run on base when the game ended.
Freshman Jackson Crenshaw started and got the win. Cook and Chase Peck had two hits each and Cook drove in four runs.
The win evened LB’s record at 4-4 and the Cavs were scheduled to host Staunton River on Tuesday. On Friday they have a 5:30 p.m. game at William Byrd.
James River was also in action a day after the LB game, playing at Glenvar in a Three Rivers District game. This was quite different than the LB game, as Glenvar pulled out a 1-0 win in a pitchers’ duel.
“This was honestly just a beautiful baseball game that we came out on the wrong end of,” said Henry. “Levi Peck threw a gem, and anytime you only give up one run you should win that one. We just couldn’t get anything going offensively. Sometimes you come out on the wrong end of a pitchers’ duel, I can’t wait to see Glenvar again.”
Peck pitched the whole game, allowing just three hits. River also had three hits, including two by Jeremiah Mays.
On Monday the bats woke up for an 8-1 win over visiting Liberty in Springwood. River had 11 hits, including two each by Mays, Peck and Saunders. Evan Joyce pitched five and a third innings for the win, fanning nine and allowing just three hits.
“Offensively, it was good to string along some quality at bats,” said Henry. “We hit the ball hard most of the night and forced them to play defense.”
The win lifted River to 3-4 on the season and they were scheduled to play at North Cross Tuesday night. On Friday the Knights will host Floyd County at 5:30 p.m.
