The Lord Botetourt softball team knows what to expect when the girls open Blue Ridge District softball play tonight in Vinton. LB will play William Byrd after splitting a doubleheader with the Terriers just last Friday in Daleville.
The district tournament is meaningless as far as post-season advancement, but pride is on the line as LB attempts to win the season series from Byrd. It will be the last time they meet this season, as Botetourt is Class 3 and Byrd is Class 4 when both teams advance to regional tournaments next week.
LB and Byrd will play the 7 p.m. game tonight at Byrd following a 5 p.m. game between top seeded Staunton River and the winner of a play-in game between Northside and William Fleming. The championship game is Friday night at Byrd at 6 p.m.
Botetourt had a busy week last week, beginning with two games in two different locations on Wednesday, May 8. They first played at William Fleming and took a 24-2 win over the Colonels with Lauren Hoffman on the mound. Katelyn Harris and Audrey Butler had two RBIs each.
After that five-inning game concluded the Cavaliers returned to Daleville to host Northside in the completion of a suspended game. Meredith Wells threw a no-hitter as LB took a 3-0 win over the Vikings. Wells was one walk away from a perfect game.
Botetourt scored all three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kloe Bacon had an RBI single and Hailey Deter drove in two.
LB took a break on Thursday, then hosted Byrd for a Friday doubleheader. In the first five-inning game LB prevailed, 2-1, with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Bacon homered to tie the game and Halle Reese had a walk-off RBI single with two outs to give LB the win.
Byrd bounced back to win the second game, 5-0, as Wells took the loss for just the second time this season. Meredith pitched both ends of the doubleheader, winning the first and losing the second, to give her an 11-2 record on the mound.
LB comes into the BRD tournament with a 16-4 overall record. The Cavaliers will open Region D play on May 23 at home against an opponent to be determined.
“This week’s district tournament doesn’t mean as much but we want to get in championship mode,” said coach Cheryl Shockley.
