Chris Harden’s Big Day Lifts Alleghany over Rockbridge County

LOW MOOR- Chris Harden drove in four runs on three hits to lead the Alleghany Cougars past the Rockbridge County Wildcats 15-1 on Monday, March 18 in a mercy ruled, 5-inning contest.

It was the first ever home game since the consolidation of Covington and Alleghany.

Harden laced a 2-run single in the second inning and singled in the third that drove in another and had another RBI single in the fourth frame.

Rockbridge pitcher Bennett Bishop struggled to find the strike zone on the unseasonal, chilly night.

The Cougars got on the board early in the bottom of the second inning after Brycen Griffith drew an RBI walk, Kai Rowland did the same, and ditto for Eli Weese. That is when Harden doubled and broke the game open. An error followed and scored one run, and Anthony Webb hit a sacrifice fly as well to cap the scoring.

Alleghany extended their early lead to 9-1 with two runs in the bottom of the third thanks to RBI singles by Weese and Harden.

The Cougars then added six more runs in the bottom of the fourth on four hits. Webb blasted a solo home run to left field, becoming the first Alleghany Cougar player to hit a home run, while Rowland got a 2-run single, Harden singled and drove one in, and a Wildcat error gave Alleghany two more runs.

Brady May got the start on the mound for Alleghany. He allowed just two hits and one run over five innings, striking out two and walking two. The aforementioned Bishop had a strange stat game for Rockbridge County.

The lefty did not allow a hit, but gave up six runs over 1.1 innings, striking out 1 and walking 6.

Alleghany had 9 hits a team.

Harden (3-4, 2 runs, 4 RBIs) and Rowland (2-2, 3 runs, 2 RBIs). Weese and Webb drove in two runs each.

Nolan Stines had the lone Wildcat RBI.

The Cougars will play at home on Tuesday, March 19 vs Riverheads.