In the first rivalry games of the season, both the Rockbridge County High School softball and baseball teams won their home openers against Parry McCluer on Saturday afternoon in Lexington. The RC softball team powered to an 11-1 win, while the RC baseball team cruised to a 14-1 win, with both games ending in five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
On the softball field, after quickly making three outs, the Wildcats (2-0) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first. RC’s Bella Dorey singled on a grounder to shortstop, and Page Wright brought her in with a single on a line drive to center field. Sadie Moore singled on a grounder to left field to drive in Wright, and Gabby Brown later scored on a groundout by Willow Rogers to make it 3-0. The Wildcats added two more runs when Landrey Campbell singled on a fly ball to left field to bring home Harley Tomlin and Brooke Hostetter.
RC scored two more runs in the second, with Dorey running home on a wild pitch and Wright scoring when Moore singled on a line drive to left field, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 7-0.
The lone run for the Fighting Blues (2-4) came in the top of the fourth. Kendall Painter hit a fly ball to center field and reached first base on an error. The Wildcats made two outs before Painter scored when Alysa Wheeler singled on a grounder to second base, cutting RC’s lead to 7-1.
The Wildcats answered back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Wright brought in the first when she doubled on a line drive to center field to drive in Dorey. Brown then singled on a grounder to left field to bring home Wright, and Brown scored when Parker Dameron singled on a fly ball to center field, extending RC’s lead to 10-1.
After preventing the Blues from getting on base in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats loaded the bases with three singles in the bottom of the fifth and then sealed the win when Moore walked to bring home Dorey.
The Wildcats racked up 18 hits while holding the Blues to two hits. Dorey and Wright led RC with four hits each, while Moore had three hits and three RBIs. Recording two hits each were Brown, Dameron and Campbell, while Rogers had one hit.
For the Blues, Wheeler and Logan Vest each had one hit.
On the mound, Moore pitched a complete game for the Wildcats, striking out five while allowing no walks and one unearned run.
Pitching for the Blues was Olivia Julian, striking out three while surrendering one walk and 11 earned runs.
RC and PM each committed two errors.
On the baseball field, PM (1-5) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Wildcats (1-2) scored five runs in the first two innings and then erupted for eight runs in the third before scoring their final run in the fourth.
PM’s Braedyn Houck singled on a grounder to second base in the top of the first and later scored on an RC error. The Blues would struggle offensively for the rest of the game, though, as the Wildcats quickly took the lead and took over.
The Wildcats racked up eight hits, led by Clay Irvine and Brady Majors with two each. Houck’s single was PM’s lone hit.
On the mound, Irvine pitched all five innings to earn the win, striking out five while allowing one no walks and one unearned run.
PM went through three pitchers: Curtis King for the first two innings, Brayden Holdren for the third, and Colby Camden for the fourth.
The Blues committed four errors, while the Wildcats had two.
RC and PM are scheduled to have face off again in both softball and baseball on Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. at PM.
Both RC teams will return to Valley District action at home against Spotswood on Tuesday, while both PM teams will return to Pioneer District action at Eastern Montgomery the same day, with all games scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
For the full stories and photos from this week’s action, please see our April 9 newspaper.
