Photos by Jenn King
First place in the Blue Ridge District baseball standings is up for grabs this week as Lord Botetourt and Franklin County will play a home-and-home series. The two come into the week tied for first place in the BRD with 4-0 records.
LB was scheduled to travel to Rocky Mount on Tuesday for the first meeting, and it was a jayvee-varsity doubleheader. The same is true Friday when the Eagles come to Daleville, as the jayvees will open the doubleheader with the varsity game scheduled for around 7 p.m.
Botetourt comes into the week at 8-2 overall and Monday’s 5-3 non-district win over Pulaski County in Daleville was the Cavaliers’ seventh straight win. JJ Tyree earned the victory on the mound as he allowed the Cougars just two hits over five innings. Ethan Deschambault pitched the last two innings and picked up a save.
Offensively, Brayden Wells and Gavin Walker had two hits each for LB and Walker drove in two runs.
Last week the Cavaliers won three games, all at home. The busy week began with a 10-0 win over winless William Fleming. Tyree pitched the first two innings and allowed no hits while striking out five. Walker, Cameron Bailey, Layne Sullivan and Noah Donahoo pitched one inning each and combined to strike out nine of a possible 12 outs. Noah Medley had two hits and two RBIs.
On Wednesday Caleb O’Quinn pitched a complete game to pick up the win as Botetourt beat visiting Hidden Valley, 3-1. O’Quinn allowed just three hits and one unearned run while fanning five. Tyree, Medley and Wells had two hits each.
The Cavs wrapped up the week with a 4-2 win over Northside Friday. Medley started on the mound in this one and pitched into the seventh inning, allowing one earned run and striking out nine. Deschambault relieved with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the seventh and got out of the jam to pick up the save. Tyree was three-for-three at the plate to highlight the offense.
“We’ve been playing pretty well,” said LB coach Todd Smith. “We’re getting good pitching and timely hits.”
