Wildcats Led In Fourth; Trailblazers Score Six In Sixth
The Rockbridge County High School baseball team suffered a pair of losses last week, falling at home against Valley District rival Spotswood 20-7 last Tuesday before losing at Fort Defiance 7-1 on Thursday.
Despite putting forth its best offensive performance against Spotswood in recent memory, the Wildcats had trouble in the field late in the game, and the Trailblazers took over.
Spotswood (6-1 overall, 1-1 district) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of the cold and windy evening, but the Wildcats (1-4, 0-2) 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 head coach Travis Roadcap said he was “very pleased” his team was able to score seven runs on Spotswood, one of the best teams in Region 3C, but added, “We’ve got to learn how to finish.”
“I saw a lot of positives,” said Roadcap. “We had great at-bats. To score seven on them, that’s no joke, but we’ve got to find a way to win.”
The Wildcats scored their 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 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 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 Drew 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 Porter 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 for five strikeouts while allowing three walks and seven runs (six earned). For the final three innings, the Blazers had Brady Hoover on the mound. Hoover, who has committed to playing Division I baseball at Longwood University next year, struck out four and allowed two hits, no walks and no runs. “He’s legit,” said Roadcap of Hoover, one of six college baseball commits, three to Division I schools, on Spotswood’s roster.
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.
Giving the Blazers credit for their dominant finish, Roadcap said, “Good teams take over.”
FD 7, RC 1
In a nondistrict road game, the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Fort Defiance responded with two runs in the third and increased its lead throughout the game.
RC scored its lone run when, after hitting a double into right field, Ziegler advanced to third base on a groundout and then scored on a passed ball.
The Indians (2-4) responded with two runs on a pair of singles in the bottom of the third. Fort added three runs in the third to extend its lead to 5-1. The first came on a sacrifice fly to center field by Carter Berry, and Fort scored its other two runs on a double by Noah Dulaney and a single by Landon Powell.
In the sixth, the Indians scored the final two runs of the game on errors by the Wildcats. For the game, RC committed three errors, while Fort had two.
Fort recorded six hits, led by Dulaney with two hits, while four other players each had one hit. The Wildcats had four hits, with a hit each by Irvine, Ziegler, Trevor Hoke and Nolan Stines.
On the mound, Tyler Miller pitched a complete game to earn the win for Fort, striking out six while allowing four hits, one walk and one unearned run.
For RC, Potter pitched the first four innings, surrendering three hits, three walks and four runs (two earned). In the final two innings, Irvine struck out two and allowed three hits, one walk and three runs (one earned).
The Wildcats were scheduled to play at East Rockingham on Monday before playing host to Harrisonburg yesterday, and they’ll continue district action at Turner Ashby on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before playing host to Rocktown next Friday, April 25, at 5 p.m.
ABOVE, RC senior JP Welsh III winds up before launching a pitch during the Wildcats’ home loss to Spotswood. Welsh pitched for 3.1 innings, striking out two while allowing four hits, two walks and four runs (three earned). AT RIGHT, Wildcat senior first baseman Drew Potter catches the throw from junior pitcher Tyler Woods to get the Spotswood baserunner out. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)
WILDCAT SENIOR Clay Irvine slides into the bag to beat the tag from a Spotswood infielder. Irvine recorded one hit, one walk and one RBI, and he scored one run. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
