RC Baseball Team Scores 20 Runs In First Two Innings
After both the Rockbridge County and Parry McCluer high school baseball teams took one on the chin in their baseball openers, something had to give when the local rivals met for the first time this spring.
And it did in a big way. The Wildcats (1-1) scored 20 runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 27-1 home victory in five innings on Thursday afternoon in Lexington. It was the third consecutive win for the Wildcats in the series, after RC swept the season series last year.
After PM (0-2) failed to score in the top of the first inning, the Wildcats put this one away early with seven runs in their half of the frame. RC took advantage of two hit batsmen and three PM errors to plate the seven runs. The Wildcats also stole seven bases in the inning and got an RBI-triple from third baseman Bradi Ziegler and a solo home run from catcher Austyn Gannutz to take the early 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats were not done there, however. RC piled on in the second, plating 13 more runs to extend the advantage to 20-0.
Gannutz picked up another RBI in the frame, singling to drive in Ziegler, who had walked. Tyler Woods had a pair of sacrifice flies to plate two runs in the inning, and Hendrick Colvin drove in two runs with a two-out single to cap off the RC outburst.
Gannutz led the RC onslaught, going 3-for-4 at the plate, adding a triple to his first-inning home run while driving in four runs and scoring twice. Colvin had two hits in his three official atbats, with two runs, three RBI and four stolen bases.
As a team, the Wildcats swiped 19 bases in the game, with Ziegler and Hoke stealing three each. RC also drew 14 walks with only two strikeouts.
On the mound, RC’s Brady Majors and Trevor Hoke combined for a no-hitter, with Majors picking up the win after going the first two innings and striking out four. Colby Camden was saddled with the loss for the Blues.
PM avoided the shutout in the fifth inning when Curtis King drew a two-out bases-loaded walk.
The Wildcats and Blues will meet again at PM on Tuesday, April 21, at 5 p.m.
PM JUNIOR catcher Kyle Smals tags RC’s Hendrick Colvin on his way to home plate. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
FIGHTING BLUE sophomore pitcher Colby Camden hustles to field the ball while RC junior Elijah Watkins runs toward the base. Watkins had one hit and an RBI. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
