The James River softball season got off to an impressive start as the Knights shut out Jefferson Forest, 10-0, in the Salem Invitational played at the Botetourt Sports Complex on Saturday.
River freshman utility player Keira Crawford had quite a debut in the game. She smacked a three-run home run in the second inning and a two-run homer in the fourth inning in her only two at bats to lead the Knights to the win.
“I know that Keira won’t ever forget her first two varsity at bats,” said River coach Steve Austin. “I have never witnessed a better debut, but we never know what the great game of softball has in store for us.”
After a three up and three down first inning, including two strikeouts, the Knights got rolling in the second frame. After a walk, a hit batter, and a strike out, freshman Sydnee Breeding fouled off several pitches before hitting a ground rule double to left center. After a second strikeout, Crawford struck with her first long ball.
In the fourth inning, after a hit batter and another strikeout, Crawford connected for home run number two, stretching the James River lead to 6-0. Jenna Pugh then legged out an infield hit and Elly Lackey walked before Austyn Moran blasted a three-run home run. Kaycee Kincaid followed immediately with a solo home run to complete the scoring, the fourth four-ply swat of the game for the Knights.
Moran threw a 64-pitch, two-hit shutout for the Knights, striking out six and walking one. This was the only game that James River played in the tournament on a very cold and blustery day.
“This is about as good as it gets against a really good opponent, who has a good pitcher, on a tough day to play softball,” said Austin. “We took an approach at the plate that led to solid contact and things really worked out for us.”
This week the Knights have three games with a trip to Waynesboro Tuesday, a home game with Salem on Thursday and a game at Rockbridge on Friday.
