William Byrd High’s Walthall Park in Vinton will be the site of a big Blue Ridge District baseball game tonight as Lord Botetourt meets the host Terriers at 5:30 p.m.
The matchup was originally scheduled for last Friday, but a late afternoon thunderstorm postponed the game. Byrd rescheduled the game for today, giving the Cavaliers a three-game week against Staunton River, Byrd and Franklin County.
“We really didn’t want to play Wednesday, but it was their home game so it was their call,” said LB coach Todd Smith.
Tonight’s game is crucial to both the district standings and the regional rankings. Coming into the week LB is 5-1 in the district and 7-1 overall while Byrd is 4-2 in the district and 5-2 overall. Franklin County is 7-1 in the district and 9-1 overall, but the Eagles aren’t in the mix for regional seeding with LB and Byrd as they’re a Class 6 school.
For Byrd and Botetourt, these games are big for Region 3D tournament seeding. Coming into the week, Abingdon and Tunstall held down the top two spots with Byrd third and LB fourth. Wins over Byrd and Franklin would move the Cavaliers up the ladder for what should be a very competitive regional tournament, and this year only the region winner advances to the state tournament.
Smith figures to start Carson Peggins on the mound tonight with Colin Sell and Sammy Peery ready for relief. He had Matt Oliver penciled in to start Tuesday’s game with Staunton River, and after those two games he’ll figure out what to do about Franklin County Friday. William Byrd is expected to start undefeated senior lefty Isaac Fix in tonight’s game.
With last Friday’s rainout the Cavaliers were idle for six days prior to the Staunton River game. Their last game was Tuesday, May 25, when they beat winless William Fleming, 14-1.
