Despite putting forth its best offensive performance against Valley District rival Spotswood in recent history, the Rockbridge County High School baseball team suffered a 20-7 home loss on Tuesday evening in Lexington.
Spotswood (6-0 overall, 1-0 district) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, but the Wildcats (1-3 overall, 0-2 district) battled back by scoring four runs in the second and led 7-6 in the fourth. However, the Trailblazers, the four-time defending Valley District champions, erupted for six runs in the sixth and added another seven in the second to pull away, as the Wildcats had trouble in the field the final two innings.
RC scored its first run in the bottom of the second when Eli Sorrells hit an infield grounder and reached on a Spotswood error, bringing home Brady Majors. Bradi Ziegler then scored on a groundout by Rocky Perlozzo, and Austin Gannutz doubled on a fly ball to right field to drive in Sorrells. Gannutz tied the game 4-4 when he scored on a single on a line drive to right field by Clay Irvine.
The Blazers responded in the top of the third when Daniel Glass grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring home Diego Marquez, putting the visitors up 5-4.
RC answered back in the bottom of the third when Perlozzo singled on a grounder to shortstop to drive in Ziegler, and a sacrifice fly to center field by Gannutz brought home Sorrells to give RC a 6-5 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Spotswood’s Landon Buracker scored on a groundout to tie the game, but the Wildcats went up 7-6 in the bottom of the fourth when Irvine scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Potter.
That lead would not last long, though, as Spotswood loaded the bases in the top of the fifth and scored when Buracker walked to bring home Andrew Hawkins, tying the game 7-7.
In the sixth, the Blazers took a 9-7 lead on a two-run home run over the center field fence by Andrew O’Brien. Spotswood scored four more runs in the inning to extend its lead to 13-7, and the Blazers went through their entire lineup again in the seventh, scoring seven more runs.
RC’s lone hit in the seventh and final inning came when pinch hitter Austin Moyers singled on a line drive to center field with two outs, Spotswood ended the game when Sorrells hit a grounder and the Blazers got Moyers out at second.
Spotswood racked up 21 hits, led by Hawkins with four, while Buracker, O’Brien and Craver each had three hits.
The Wildcats recorded nine hits from nine different players, including Perlozzo and Gannutz, each of whom had two RBIs.
Spotswood’s three pitchers combined four five strikeouts while allowing three walks and seven runs (six earned). RC used five pitchers, who combined for three strikeouts while surrendering six walks and 20 runs (16 earned).
RC committed four errors, while Spotswood had one.
The Wildcats will are scheduled to return to action on Thursday with a nondistrict game at Fort Defiance at 5:30 p.m.
For the full story on this week’s action, please see our April 16 newspaper. Stories and photos from last week’s action will be in this Wednesday’s newspaper.
