Wildcats Leading Blues, 6-0

Lightning Halts Game In Fifth Inning

In the first local rivalry game of the season, the Rockbridge County High School softball team led 6-0 over Parry McCluer before the game was stopped in the fifth inning due to lightning on Monday of last week in Buena Vista.

The Wildcats would remain at 1-4, after their Valley District game that was scheduled for Tuesday of last week at Harrisonburg was postponed to a date to be determined. The Blues improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Pioneer District after earning a 9-5 road win over Eastern Montgomery on Tuesday of last week. (See separate story.)

RC, which split the season series with the Blues last year, took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of last Monday’s game, which started at 7 p.m. and was played mostly under the lights, with a large contingent of fans watching.

RC loaded the bases with a single and two walks before Sadie Moore singled to center field to drive in Bella Dorey. Parker Dameron then doubled on a line drive to center field to bring home Marla Zollman.

The Wildcats added another run in the third when Dameron tripled on a line drive to center field to bring home Moore.

In the fourth, the Wildcats added two more runs, with Dorey scoring on a passed ball and Zollman scoring on a sacrifice fly to center field by Dameron.

With lighting in the area, the game was stopped with one out in the fifth. The contest will be finished at a date to be determined.

The Wildcats had eight hits, led by Dorey, Moore and Dameron with two each. Dameron was leading RC with four RBIs.

Praising Dameron, a junior, RC head coach Keston Pelter said, “Parker really hit the ball today. I’m really proud of her. We were finding the gaps today, and our fielding, they were taking deep breaths, relaxing, playing together.”

PM’s lone hit so far was a single by Logan Vest in the first inning.

Pelter said her outfielders – Zollman in left field, Brooklyn Beverly in center field and Cameron Terry in right field “came up with a couple of big plays. That helps us out.”

Through four innings, RC pitched Sadie Moore struck out four and allowed one hit, two walks and no runs. “Their pitcher’s good,” said PM head coach Troy Clark of Moore.

In 4.1 innings for PM, Olivia Julian struck out two and surrendered eight hits, four walks and six earned runs. Clark said Julian “was struggling in finding her spots early, but she figured it out.”

PM committed two errors, while RC had one. Reviewing the game so far, Clark said the Wildcats “played well. We made some mistakes.”

The Wildcats and Blues are scheduled to play each other again at RC on Wednesday, May 8, at 5 p.m. For the date of the completion of the first showdown, which could take place on May 8 also if the teams aren’t able to find another date, visit www.rockbridgeathletics.com.

Moving forward, Pelter said, “We’ve just got to keep the momentum in our favor.”

Returning from spring break, the Wildcats, who were scheduled to start Valley District play at home against Spotswood yesterday and will continue district action at Turner Ashby on Friday at 5:30 p.m. before playing host to William Monroe on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Due to poor field conditions because of the rain, PM’s home games that were scheduled to take place against Temple Christian on Thursday and against Buffalo Gap on Friday were postponed to dates to be determined. The Blues will return to Pioneer District action when they play host to Craig County on Thursday before playing host to nondistrict rival Altavista on Monday, with both games starting at 5 p.m.