.jpg)
Wildcats Erase 8-0 Deficit, Win With Walk-Off Single
In a thrilling come-from-behind victory, the Rockbridge County High School baseball team earned a 12-11 home win over Alleghany, capped by a walk-off two-run single to left field by freshman Rocky Perlozzo last Wednesday in Lexington.
With the non-district win, the Wildcats (2-6) avenged a 15-1 road loss to the Cougars (5-3) on March 18. The Wildcats lost a pair of Valley District games last week, falling 8-0 at home against Spotswood last Tuesday before suffering a 19-1 setback in five innings on Friday at Turner Ashby.
After the win over Alleghany, a Class 2 state semifinalist last year, RC head coach Travis Roadcap said, “It was one of the wildest games I have ever seen and coached in. [A] freshman stepping up in a clutch situation against a really good team says a lot.”
RC trailed 8-0 in the fifth inning, after Alleghany pitcher Trevor Jackson was solid through the first four until the Wildcats chased him in the fifth after stringing together a couple of hits.
A two-run single by RC’s Thomas Armstrong was the nail in the coffin for Jackson’s night, as he exited the game with an 8-4 lead.
After Clay Irvine pitched the first 3.2 innings, Zac Majors entered the ballgame in relief in the fifth for the Wildcats and was able to keep the home team within striking distance, as their bats continued to chip away.
RC scored three runs in the sixth inning, but Alleghany also scored three.
Trailing 11-7 in the bottom of the seventh the Wildcats put together a rally for the ages, scoring five runs without recording an out. Perlozzo was 2-of-3 on the night, had three RBIs, and scored a run. Also recording two hits each for the Wildcats were Majors and Irvine.
Adding to his performance on the mound, Majors brought in two runs with a double off the wall in the seventh that set up Perlozzo’s walk-off single down the left field line.
“There is no better feeling than walk-off wins and seeing the happiness of athletes when that happens,” said Roadcap. “We certainly needed that.” In 3.1 innings in relief, Majors struck out one and surrendered five hits, two walks and three earned runs. In his start, Irvine struck out one and allowed seven hits, one walk and eight runs (five earned).
Pleased with his team’s leadership, Roadcap said, “I am so proud of my seniors in Thomas Armstrong, Zac Majors and Sean Martino for truly competing, leading and helping all of our freshmen and sophomores find a way to win against a really tough team.”
The Wildcats overcame four errors, while Alleghany had one.
RC and Alleghany each racked up 12 hits. Irvine, Perlozzo and Drew Potter led the Wildcats with two hits each. Perlozzo paced RC with three RBIs.
Hunter DePriest led Alleghany with three hits, while Christopher Harden, Brady May, and Graham Brewster each added two hits.
Moving forward, Roadcap explained how this win will help the Wildcats. “Hopefully, we can keep the momentum from that game in our minds and understand that when we relax and just play, we can compete with anyone.”
SHS 8, RC 0
The Wildcats lost their Valley District opener 8-0 at home against Spotswood on Tuesday of last week in Lexington.
Brady Hoover delivered a complete-game gem for Spotswood (7-2 overall, 2-1 district), tossing 14 strikeouts while only allowing two hits and one walk.
The Wildcats didn’t help themselves, committing eight errors, while the Trailblazers had none. Irvine and Brady Majors provided the only two hits of the night for RC.
Spotswood recorded seven hits, led by Hoover and Nathan Leslie with two each.
Potter, a junior, got the start on the mound for the Wildcats, going 4.1 innings, striking out four while allowing two hits, five walks and three runs (one earned).
“I was pleased with our performance for the first five innings and impressed with Potter’s first varsity start on the mound,” said Roadcap. “He came out, threw strikes and competed.”
TA 19, RC 1
The Wildcats fell to 0-2 in the district with a 19-1 road loss to Turner Ashby in five innings on Friday in Bridgewater.
RC ran into a buzz saw, only collecting four hits, one each from Armstrong, Zac Majors, Nolan Stines and Eli Sorrells.
Majors scored the lone run for the Wildcats in the second inning on an error in center field by TA (4-4, 2-1).
The Wildcats used four pitchers. Martino pitched the first 2.1 innings, striking out one and allowing seven hits, three walks and 11 runs (four earned). Pitching in relief were Potter, Bennett Bishop and Brady Edwards.
Free bases plagued the Wildcats, who committed six errors, while TA had one.
Clay Guyer threw all five innings for TA, striking out six while allowing four hits, two walks and one unearned run.
TA racked up 12 hits, with five players recording two hits each.
Brooks Bowman was a tough out, reaching base twice in his three at-bats for TA. Bowman collected two hits, including a double, scored two runs and led the Knights with four RBIs.
The Wildcats were scheduled to play host to William Monroe yesterday and will continue district action at home against Broadway on Friday at 5 p.m. before playing at East Rockingham on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
