James River will be the home team this week as the two county schools meet for the second time on the softball diamond. Last Thursday in Daleville, Lord Botetourt junior pitcher Rhyaan Jones made her varsity high school debut by pitching a two-hit shutout over the Knights in a 7-0 Cavalier win.
Jones struck out six and walked none while allowing only three base runners in the game. Sophomore Jenna Pugh and freshman Elly Lackey both had bunt singles for the Knights. Kaycee Kincaid reached second base when her deep fly ball turned the outfielder around and was dropped.
“Rhyann threw the ball very well,” said LB coach Cheryl Shockley. “Having command of her spots and changing speeds kept the batters off balance. She a good job getting us ground balls and key strikeouts.”
The Cavaliers banged out 13 hits, eight from the fourth inning on. Maddie Carroll had three hits to lead LB, including a solo home run in the fifth. Hailey Deter hit a solo homer in the first inning for the Cavs, along with a third inning RBI double. Makena Shupe and Audrey Butler also had two hits.
“We had a very exciting first outing,” said Shockley. “I was proud of the way our girls stepped on the field. They have worked hard in practice to prepare mentally and physically for the first game.”
Sophomore pitcher Austyn Moran was pitching in her third game in four days for the Knights. She gave up all seven runs while striking out four and walking two, one intentional.
“Austyn started out pretty strong but our third game in four days, two on the road, just caught up with her a little bit,” said River coach Steve Austin. “She had already thrown 99 pitches on Monday and another 99 in relief on Wednesday night. She toughed it out to get us through to the end.”
James River fell to 0-3 with the loss while Lord Botetourt went to 1-0.
“I want to highlight the depth of coach Shockley’s program,” said Austin. “Not many high schools could lose basically their entire starting lineup from the lost year of 2020 and put this caliber team on the field. They have an impressive squad.”
The Knights loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning but failed to score as they frustratingly left seven runners on base in the last three innings. Moran led James River with three hits. Lexi McCullogh and Jenna Pugh had two hits each. Lacey Lucado, Karlee Eubank, Lauren Griffin, Elly Lackey, and Simmons had one hit each. James River actually ended up outhitting Alleghany 12 hits to nine but could not overcome the first inning.
After giving up four unearned runs in the first pitching in relief of starter Ainsley Simmons, Moran scattered four hits and no runs in the last five innings of play.
“We had a very hard first week,” said Austin. “Not much went our way, but we are going to dig deep, learn from the games we lost, and be better next time out.”
River was rained out of a Monday game with Carroll County. The Knights will host Floyd today before entertaining LB on Thursday. The Cavs were scheduled to play at William Fleming on Tuesday.
