Daleville will be the site of the second meeting between the two Botetourt County schools in baseball today. Game time is 5 p.m. at Lord Botetourt High School.
The Cavaliers won the first meeting between the two, 12-3, and they’ll send Bra Farrell to the mound against James River. The Cavaliers come in at 10-6 overall, while River was 2-7 prior to a Tuesday game with Glenvar.
Lord Botetourt has had a busy schedule, including three Blue Ridge District games last week. The Cavs started off with a 16-3 win over William Fleming in Roanoke as Nick Lancaster picked up a win on the mound, fanning eight and allowing just three hits. Brae Farrell was three-for-three at the plate with a single, double and triple. Colston Powers and Kyle Arnholt had two hits each and Powers drove in four runs.
A day later the Cavs played host to William Byrd and dropped a 7-2 decision. LB got off to a bad start when Byrd scored four unearned runs in the first inning after a controversial call in the outfield. Jared Arnholt appeared to catch a fly ball in front of the fence but then dropped it as he prepared to throw the ball to the infield. After the umpires huddled they ruled Arnholt dropped the ball for an error and Byrd went on to score four unearned runs.
“They got us off to a bad start and we never caught up,” said LB coach Todd Smith.
Connor Fuhrman had a solo home run for the Cavs while Farrell pitched five innings and took the loss. He gave up six runs but only two were earned.
On Friday the Cavs bounced back with a 5-4 win over Staunton River in Daleville. Matt Oliver pitched the first five innings and picked up the win, fanning six. Jared Arnholt came on for the save for LB. Farrell and Powers had home runs to fuel the offense.
Botetourt comes into the week tied with Northside for second in the Blue Ridge District at 3-2. That tie should be broken on Friday when the Vikings come to Daleville. LB had a non-district game with Rockbridge on Tuesday.
James River went a week between games after losing to Carroll County last week, 8-0. Gabe Sebastino and Jamie Markham had two hits each for the Knights. River was scheduled to host Glenvar on Tuesday but results were too late for publication, and Giles will come to Springwood on Friday for a Three Rivers District game.