The Lord Botetourt girls were one win away from a spot in the state Class 3 softball tournament as the paper went to press. LB was scheduled to play Cave Spring on Tuesday at Tunstall High School in the Region 3D semifinal.
The other semifinal had Tunstall meeting Staunton River, and the two winners advance to Thursday’s championship game at Tunstall. Both finalists make the state tournament, with the Region 3D champ getting a state quarterfinal home game.
At 19-4 Botetourt was favored over Cave Spring, having beaten the Knights twice during the regular season. However, both wins were close as LB won 9-8 and 3-2 over a tough Cave Spring team.
Botetourt opened the regional at home last Thursday with a 10-1 win over Patrick County. Meredith Wells scattered seven hits and struck out nine while walking just one to pick up the win.
The game was close until LB scored eight times in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Cougars put themselves in hot water with four walks and a hit batter. Then, after a change of pitchers, LB exploded for three straight hits, capped by a bases loaded triple by Hailey Deter.
Deter had two hits for LB and Maegan Barnes was three-for-three with a run batted in. Maia Folk had a double.
