“Alleghany was going to be hard to beat, no matter what,” said River coach Steve Austin. “They are talented, and they probably play with more emotion than anyone in our district. And, as the post season is showing, we are in a very strong league. We had to play really well to beat them and we did not do that.”
Things started on a much more optimistic note for River. After pitcher Austyn Moran had a 1-2-3 top of the first, Jenna Pugh led the game off with a push bunt hit. Elly Lackey then put down a sacrifice bunt and Pugh beat the throw to second. Ainsley Simmons sacrifice bunted again and reached to load the bases as the throw was mishandled at first. Lacey Lucado hit a two RBI double to right but Simmons was eventually thrown on the play as she was held up and both runners ended up at third base. Lucado eventually scored and the Knights led 3-0 after one inning.
After the big Mountaineer second inning, they were retired quietly in the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning, James River tied things up at 4-4. Simmons got a triple to right field and scored in a wild pitch.
In the top of the fourth inning, just as they did earlier in the game, the Mountaineers answered the Knights score. Abby Fridley had a one out single to center but was forced at second base as Gracie Conner reached on the fielder’s choice. Averi Phillips then hit a crucial triple RBI to right field, her second hit of the game, and it was the eventual game-winning hit. Phillips singled and stole second base in the top of the seventh and scored on another error for an insurance run.
The Knights had a one out single by Kaycee Kincaid in fourth, two out singles by Lexi McCullough and Kincaid in the sixth, and a two out triple by Lackey in the seventh but all were stranded.
James River ended up out hitting Alleghany, nine hits to six, but five errors in the field were their undoing. McCullough and Kincaid led the Knights with two hits apiece and Pugh, Simmons, Lucado, Lackey, and Lauren Griffin had one each. Averi Phillips had three of the six hits for Alleghany.
James River ends the 2021 season with an 8-5 record. After beginning the season 0-3 the Knights ripped off eight straight wins before ending the season with losses to Lord Botetourt, in the regular season finale, and Alleghany.
“It was a very disappointing loss and there is no other way to say it,” said Austin. “We did not play at the level we did for most of the year and that was the most frustrating thing.”
This was the final game for seniors Lizzie Garrett, Griffin, Lucado, and Simmons. The Knights expect to return six starters in 2022 along with several promising young players coming up from the JV program.
“Like most teams this spring, we had to deal with a lot bumps in the road and we were very resilient,” said Austin. “ I am extremely proud of what we accomplished with a pretty young squad and I have high hopes for the future.”
