The James River softball girls recovered from a shaky start to defeat Giles, 10-3, last Friday in Springwood. The victory was the third in a row for the Knights, all over Three Rivers District foes.

McKenna Williams walked to lead off the game for the Spartans and Hanna Santolla promptly served Kaitlin Simmons’ first pitch over the center field fence to put the visitors up 2-0. Freshman Lacey Lucado hit a solo home run for the Knights in the bottom of the first to cut the lead in half.

Giles had three hits in the second inning leading to an RBI single by Williams. James River countered with five runs in the bottom of the inning led by a two RBI single by Lakota Lucado and RBI hits by Rachel Kickuth and Lacey Lucado.

Simmons rounded into form and retired nine in a row and only allowed three base runners the rest of the game. She gave up five hits and struck out seven batters while walking two.

Lacey Lucado paced the Knights with three hits, including the solo home run, while knocking in four runs. Kickuth, Lakota Lucado, Evie Melvin, and Cameron Hildebrand each had two hits.

“We hit the ball in spurts but overall pretty well,” said coach Steve Austin. “Our defense was really solid again with a catcher’s interference in the seventh inning being our first error in four games. Our pitching was very good. Just an all around winning effort.”

The girls upped their record to 8-5 overall, 5-2 in district play.

Five days after winning decisively in five innings against Glenvar in Roanoke County, James River had to have help to win 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh in Springwood last week. Glenvar pitcher McKenna Shearer, who had only walked one batter in six innings, walked the bases full on only 14 pitches with her team leading 4-2 entering the last River at bat.

Lakota Lucado singled sharply to right field after the third walk to score Madison Brogan and cut the score to 4-3. Then, with one out, Sara Faust hit a ground ball to deep short. The throw to home plate was both late and errant allowing Rachel Kickuth and an alert Cameron Hildebrand to score and give the Knights the “walk” off win.

“This game was eerily similar to a couple of close home losses from earlier in the season except this time we were able to win,” said Austin.

This week the girls are at Alleghany on Tuesday, at Floyd County Thursday and home to Radford on Friday.