Wildcats Win One Of Three

RC Defeats Staunton, Lose To Riverheads, Fort

Playing three Shenandoah District games in four days, the Rockbridge County High School baseball team earned an 11-4 road win over Staunton on Monday of last week before falling at home against Riverheads 9-5 the next day and coming up short 13-11 at Fort Defiance on Thursday.

The Wildcats ended the week at 3-6 overall and 2-5 in the district.

At Staunton (1-8 overall, 0-6 district), the Wildcats scattered runs through the first four innings to take a 7-0 lead. The Storm cut the lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth, but the Wildcats scored two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to finish the game.

The Wildcats racked up 12 hits while holding Staunton to two. Bradi Ziegler led RC with three hits and three RBIs, while Austyn Gannutz recorded two hits.

Gabryel Johnson and Addison Brown each had one hit for the Storm.

On the mound for RC, Elijah Watkins pitched a complete game, striking out seven while allowing two hits, one walk and four runs (two earned). The Storm used three pitchers.

RC overcame seven errors, while Staunton committed two.

RHS 9, RC 5

The Wildcats suffered a 9-5 home loss to Riverheads on Tuesday of last week in Lexington.

RC took a 2-0 lead by the end of the second inning, thanks to a few Riverheads errors and strong base running by the Wildcats. Riverheads starting pitcher Cason Croft struggled early. giving up the two runs. with one earned, but followed the slow start with two scoreless innings. Croft pitched the first four innings, striking out five while allowing two hits, two walks and two runs (one earned).

Riverheads (8-1, 6-1) stormed back, scoring the next eight runs through the third, fourth, and fifth innings, to take an 8-2 lead. RC pitcher Hendrick Colvin started the evening strong but struggled in the middle innings. Pitching the first four innings, Colvin struck out four while allowing four hits, three walks and four runs (three earned).

RC tried to whittle away the Riverheads lead, scoring one run in the bottom half of the fifth inning. After a scoreless sixth inning, the Gladiators added another run in the seventh to extend their lead to 9-3.

The Wildcats’ seventh-inning comeback fell short after grabbing a couple of extra runs.

The Wildcats’ offensive numbers as a team lagged behind Riverheads. RC had six hits, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Each run was batted in. Riverheads had 11 hits, five walks, and four strikeouts, with seven RBIs for their nine runs.

After Colvin left the mound, Tyler Woods finished the game He pitched three innings, giving up seven hits with five earned runs and allowing two walks.

For Riverheads, Asher Falls pitched two innings after Croft. He gave up two hits and two runs with one walk. Nolan Burner finished the final inning, striking out two while giving up two hits, one run and one walk.

Offensively, Ziegler led the Wildcats with two hits and two RBIs. Gannutz picked up one run, one hit, an RBI and a walk.

Croft led the Riverheads offense, scoring two runs and recording three hits and an RBIs. Mason Miller and Holden Fitzgerald had two hits each and pitched in heavily in the win.

Riverheads committed three errors, while RC had two.

FD 13, RC 11

Despite an impressive comeback in the seventh inning, the Wildcats came up short 13-11 on Thursday at Fort Defiance.

RC trailed 13-6 after Fort (3-5, 3-3) scored four runs in the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh, the Wildcats erupted for five runs. RC started its rally with a single on a grounder to right field by Trevor Hoke, and Rocky Perlozzo then doubled on a fly ball to center field to advance Hoke to third base. Gannutz singled on a hard grounder to left field to bring home both baserunners.

After Brady Majors grounded into a fielder’s choice, Colvin singled to right field to drive in Gannutz. Majors scored on a groundout to first base to cut the Indians’ lead to 13-10. After a single by Watkins, Chase Potter singled on a line drive to center field to bring home Colvin. Hoke was the next one up to bat, but he grounded out to second base, and Fort held on for the win.

RC recorded 12 hits, while Fort had 11. Colvin led the Wildcats with three hits and had two RBIs, while Gannutz and Potter each had two hits. Leading Fort with two hits each were Luke Allen, Noah Dulaney, Carter Berry and Lance Fridley.

Majors pitched the first 4.1 innings for RC, striking out two while allowing nine hits, three walks and nine runs (seven earned). Austin Moyers pitched the final 1.2 innings, striking out three while surrendering two hits, three walks and four runs (one earned). Fort used four pitchers, striking out only one RC batter.

RC committed five errors, while Fort had one.

The Wildcats were scheduled to visit local rival Parry McCluer yesterday and will return to district action at home against Alleghany on Friday before playing host to Staunton on Tuesday, with both games scheduled for 5:30 p.m.