The Lord Botetourt baseball team will be in Vinton Friday to take on William Byrd in what promises to be an exciting affair. Botetourt, Byrd and Franklin County are all battling for the Blue Ridge District lead coming into the week.
Prior to Tuesday’s games LB, Byrd and Franklin County had one loss each. LB beat Byrd, Byrd beat Franklin County and Franklin has a win over Lord Botetourt. On Tuesday, Franklin was at Byrd so, weather permitting, someone picked up a second loss. Botetourt was scheduled to play host to winless William Fleming and the Cavs should have picked up a win there.
Last Friday at Northside, LB improved to 4-1 in the district and 6-1 overall with a 10-4 win over the host Vikings. Northside scored run in the bottom of the first off LB lefty Colin Sell and that stood up until the top of the fourth when the Cavaliers tied the game at 1-1.
Caron Peggins relieved Sell in the fourth inning and he helped his own cause with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth as the Cavaliers plated four runs. Northside cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth with two runs, but LB tacked on five insurance runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a bases clearing double by Sammy Peery.
Peggins picked up the win on the mound, striking out five, and he was also two for four at the plate with his fifth home run of the season.
LB coach Todd Smith was expected to throw “staff” against week hitting Fleming on Tuesday, but he’s not sure who will pitch against Byrd on Friday. Matt Oliver is the staff ace.
“Matt pitched against them the first time and I don’t like to throw the same pitcher against the same team twice,” he said. “We’ll decide later in the week.”