Thursday Roundup: Storm Grabs Big District win in baseball, Plus much more

WAYNESBORO – The Staunton Storm picked up a much-needed victory Thursday evening, defeating Waynesboro 8-2 in Shenandoah District baseball action. The victory snapped Staunton’s five-game losing streak.

Staunton sophomore Nathan Neil helped carry the Storm to victory with his right arm and his bat, but without his game cleats.

“He forgot his cleats. He left in the clubhouse back at Staunton,” Storm head coach Robbie Miller said. “But he pitched a great game when we needed a win.”

Neil went the distance, limiting Waynesboro to two runs on six base hits. He struck out five and walked two. Neil also had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing on the mound for the Staunton righthander. The Little Giants left two runners on base in the bottom of the second and left the bases full in the bottom of the third, managing just one run in those two innings.

“He made some big pitches to get out of some trouble, and we made some plays defensively to help him out,” said Miller.

Staunton struck quickly with two runs in the top of the first. Gabe Johnson led off with a base hit and Daniel Caswell walked. Neil scored both runners with a line drive double down the left field line for a 2-0 Storm lead. 

The Storm struck again in the second inning with the same three players doing the damage. With two outs and no one on base, Johnson walked and Caswell singled to put runners on the corners. After Caswell stole second, Neil delivered a two-run single to left, increasing the Storm’s lead to 4-0.

Waynesboro got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third on Zach Rankin’s RBI-single, cutting the Staunton lead to 4-1.

The Storm broke the game open with a four-run outburst in the fifth inning. Staunton loaded the bases on consecutive singles by Neil, Henry Knox and Riley Cook. Two runs scored on a Waynesboro error and two more scored on a double by Zack Hinkle, giving the visitors an 8-1 advantage.

Staunton finished the game with 10 hits, led by Neil’s three hits and two each from Johnson and Knox. Rankin had two of Waynesboro’s six hits and drove in both Little Giants’ runs.    

Fort Defiance 4, Rockbridge 1 (Baseball)
LEXINGTON – Fort Defiance went on the road Thursday and pick up a 4-1 non-district victory over Rockbridge County.

The Indians scored two runs in the first, one on a base hit by Noah Dulaney and never trailed. Fort scored its final runs in the second on a two-run double by Isaac Marshall.

Dulaney got the win on the mound, pitching five innings and allowing one run on four hits. Wilson Cash finished up with two scoreless innings.

Fort had just five hits, two by leadoff hitter Tripp Hanger.

Fort Defiance 5, Rockbridge 3 (Softball)
LEXINGTON – Fort Defiance rallied from a 3-2 deficit with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to defeat Rockbridge 5-3 in non-district softball action.

Brailyn Breeden drove in the go-ahead run with a base hits in the sixth to put Fort on top 4-3.

Olivia Newman was 4-for-4 at the plate to lead Fort’s offense. Caroline Hanger and Breeden each added two hits.

Hanger picked up the win in the circle, pitching four innings and allowing no runs on just one hit.

Buffalo Gap 11, Parry McCluer 0 (Softball)
BUFFALO GAP – Bailey Tribble and Elissa Caricofe both homered Thursday to power Buffalo Gap to an 11-0 non-district victory over Parry McCLuer.

Tribble was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBIs. Avery Wheeler and Caricofe each added two base hits.

Tribble went the distance in the circle, allowing just three hits in five innings. She struck out nine batters.