Photo by Brian Hoffman
The Lord Botetourt baseball team will be at Billy Sample Field in Salem today for a 5:30 p.m. non-district game. Although the game won’t count in the Blue Ridge District standings, a win over a Class 4 team would be helpful to the Cavaliers when it comes to rankings for the Region 3D tournament, which is coming up in a couple weeks.
The Cavs split two games last week, and as usual it was either feast or famine for the offense. LB had 19 hits in a 15-12 win over Staunton River, then just six in a 5-2 loss to William Byrd. Botetourt has scored 10 or more runs in seven games this year and two or fewer five times.
“We’ve had a hard time finding consistency,” said LB coach Todd Smith. “And it seems like when we hit the ball our defense struggles.”
Botetourt had no trouble hitting the ball in Moneta in the BRD win over Staunton River. Jairdan Pennix had four hits and Brady Kish and Beau Lonker had three each. Jackson Crenshaw pitched four innings to pick up the win with Kobe Hairston hurling two and two-thirds of relief before Chase Peck got the last out. Only five of the Eagles’ 12 runs were earned.
On Thursday of last week the Cavaliers hosted William Byrd and were held to six hits. Swisher Cook and Emery Lonker had two each but Botetourt struggled at the plate with runners in scoring position.
“We just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it,” said Smith.
Cook pitched the first five and two-thirds innings and took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs. He struck out seven and walked one before Kish went the final inning and a third, fanning three.
With the split the Cavaliers come into the week at 10-8 overall and 5-3 in the district. They were scheduled to play at 1-15 William Fleming on Tuesday, so that was likely a win. The Cavs are at Salem today and at Northside Friday for their third road game of the week, and that will wrap up the regular season weather permitting.
