The James River softball team went on the road on Monday and ran away from Glenvar, 13-0, in five innings. The win kept River unbeaten in the Three Rivers District at 4-0 and upped the girls’ overall record to 12-1.
Kaycee Kincaid hit a three-run home run to pace the Knights, her sixth homer of the year. She also had a double, a walk and two runs scored.
Three Knights had three hits each. Jenna Pugh had two singles and a double, an RBI and three runs scored. Elly Lackey had three singles, two RBIs and a run scored. Ripley Barry had two singles, a double, three RBIs and a run scored, and River’s lone senior, Karlee Eubank, contributed a single, a double and three runs scored. River banged out 15 hits and benefitted from several Highlander miscues.
Pitcher Austyn Moran threw a five-inning shutout, allowing only two hits. It was her seventh shutout of the season. Austyn struck out nine batters, walking one and hitting one.
“Following a game Friday, and the prom on Saturday, I couldn’t be happier with how we played, especially on the road,” said River coach Steve Austin. “Monday games are difficult anytime, but we were very solid.
“Our pitcher, Austyn Moran, was exceptionally sharp again and we played very good defense behind her. We had all three phases, pitching, hitting, and defense working together.”
Last Friday in Springwood, Moran shut out Floyd on two hits, 5-0. She struck out a season-high 13 batters with just one walk on only 92 pitches, and executed her sixth shutout of the season.
James River had a season low four hits, one each by Lackey, Kincaid, Chloe Joynes and Marley Huddleston, and the Knights benefitted from six walks.
“If you are going to be a good team, you have to win games in different ways,” said Austin. “We won this game on pitching and our defense. We have been pairing up good hitting with good pitching but today good pitching was enough, along with really solid defense.”
River will go to Carroll County on Thursday for a district game. Next Monday, Carroll comes here, and on Tuesday of next week the Knights are at Radford.
