The Lord Botetourt softball girls put another trophy in the school trophy case last week, and coach Cheryl Shockley hopes it doesn’t stop there. The Cavaliers are playing in the Conference 31 tournament this week with a spot in the regional on the line.
Botetourt finished the regular season with wins over William Fleming and Staunton River to win the Blue Ridge District title last week. LB finished 11-1 in district games and 14-4 overall.
“It was the first trophy of any kind the softball team has won since 2007,” said Shockley.
The trophy is nice, but the BRD title doesn’t assure the Cavaliers of playing beyond this week. That will be decided in the Conference 31 tourney, which opened with Monday quarterfinal games as Northside beat Alleghany, 11-1, and Staunton River topped Magna Vista, 4-1.
Semifinals were scheduled to be played Tuesday at Northside, weather permitting. LB, who had a first round bye, was scheduled to play host Northside with Rockbridge going up against Staunton River. Finals were scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. at Northside, although weather could be a factor. The two finalists advance to the Region 3A West tournament next week.
Botetourt ended the regular season with four games in four days last week, going 2-2. They lost to William Byrd at home, 8-3, then dropped a nine-inning game to Salem, 3-1, at the James I. Moyer Complex on a walk-off home run by Salem’s Liz Warren.
The game was scoreless after eight innings and went to the international tie-breaker rule in the ninth, starting the inning with a runner on second. LB scored one run in the top of the ninth but Warren drilled one over the fence on a full count to give Salem the win in the bottom of the inning.
“We left 12 on base for the game and Salem left two,” said Shockley. “We can take valuable lessons from that game.”
The Cavs bounced back with a 21-0 win over hapless William Fleming on Thursday, as freshman Lauren Hoffman hit a grand slam home run. On Friday, Meredith Wells got the win as LB beat Staunton River in Moneta, 8-2. Mary-Hannah Jackson had three hits and Maranda Switzer and Mia Folk had two each.
The Jackson River Sports Complex in Covington will be the site for the Region 3A West tournament.
