Lord Botetourt will play host to James River today as the two local schools meet on the softball diamond. Game time is 5:30 in Daleville.

LB won the first meeting, 9-4, in Springwood so the Knights will be looking for a measure of revenge. River is 4-3-1 after splitting two games last week.

On Tuesday of last week, River used a five-run second inning and an eight-run sixth to outdistance Giles, 17-1, in Pearisburg. Sara Faust led three Knights with three hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs. Lakota Lucado also had three hits and two RBIs, and Evie Melvin had two doubles and a single. Cameron Hildebrand had two doubles and three RBIs and Erin Peery had two doubles and one RBI as the visitors banged out 18 hits, including eight doubles.

Kaitlin Simmons had a no hitter going through 4-2/3 innings and she ended up pitching a six-inning three-hitter with five strikeouts and one walk, allowing the one run.

“The first game after spring break is often a challenge for us but we handled our trip to Giles very well,” said coach Steve Austin. “We were ready to play”.

Last Thursday in Springwood, Alleghany used timely hitting to support a strong pitching performance by Kerry Byer in holding off James River, 5-3. Alleghany got eight hits in the game and bunched four of them together in the sixth inning to score its final two runs. A two-out sinking liner hit by Bailee Leach in the fourth inning that was ruled as a trap catch by Cameron Hildebrand of the Knights also plated two runs for the Mountaineers.

James River was limited to four hits by Byer but the Knights did rally to send six batters to the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings and got the potential winning run to the plate in the final frame with one out. Hildebrand reached base all four times for the Knights including via a double and two walks. Evie Melvin, Erin Peery, and Allena Curtis had one hit each.

Kaitlin Simmons was the losing pitcher despite striking out seven, walking only three, and allowing only three earned runs.

“We didn’t play well enough or control all of the things we could control. But sometimes when things happen the way they do, you just aren’t meant to win,” said Austin. “Alleghany found a way to get the victory so we give them credit and move on. Our upcoming schedule is brutal so we need to recover quickly.”

LB started off last week with an uncharacteristic five-inning slaughter rule loss to William Byrd, 10-0, in Vinton. Byrd’s Mara Strum pitched a one hitter, as Hannah Mundy was the only Cavalier to reach safely.

“I tip my hat to Mara, she’s a good pitcher and she put the ball where she wanted it,” said LB coach Cheryl Shockley. “But we did not stick to our game plan.”

A day later at home the Cavaliers lost to Rockbridge, 10-7, despite a much better offensive showing. Mundy, Lauren Hoffman, Maegan Barnes and Kenleigh Gunter had two hits each and all four had a double. Mundy drove in three runs.

Hoffman, Maia Folk and Meredith Wells split time on the mound with Folk taking the loss.

On Friday the Cavaliers stopped the losing streak with a 4-2 win over Staunton River in Moneta. Wells pitched all seven innings to improve to 4-2 on the rubber.

Offensively, leadoff hitter Gunter walked three times and scored all three times she was on. Wells and Barnes had two hits each and Mundy drove in two more.

The Cavs were scheduled to host Cave Spring on Monday but that game was postponed. On Friday they’re at Northside and the girls are looking forward to a rematch with William Byrd in Daleville next Tuesday.

James River was scheduled to play at Radford on Tuesday and Friday Floyd County is here for a couple key Three Rivers District games.