The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS – Nine runs in the first three innings gave Alleghany more than enough cushion as they cruised past the Bath County Chargers Wednesday, 15-4.
The Mountaineers banged out 15 hits in the win, giving them a total of 31 hits in two games this week.
“We are really swinging the bats well,” said Alleghany coach Gary Rice.
Taylor Carter led Alleghany at the plate with a 3-for-5 day. Jerrod Groves, Dakota Nicely and Cody Craft added two hits each with Craft driving in three runs.
Dalton Nicely added a three-run bomb in the second inning, while one of Nicely’s hits was a solo home run in the top of the first.
J.M. Harvey led the Chargers at the plate with a perfect 2-for-2 day.
Dillon Fry, Derek Brinley, Tyler Deeds and Chris Nichols had one hit each.
Nicely’s solo shot gave Alleghany an early 1-0 lead. Nicely’s three-run bomb in the top of the second increased Alleghany’s lead to 4-0, but they were not done yet.
Seth Bradley followed with a double and scored on Cody Nida’s two-out double. Nida moved to third after Dakota Nicely reached on an error and scored after Bath starting pitcher Michael Robertson was called for a balk.
That would give the Mountaineers a 6-0 lead after one and a half.
Bath County would get one back in the home half of the second when Brinkley reached on an error and moved to third on Deeds’ single. A balk call on AHS pitcher Dakota Nicely allowed Brinkley to trot home and bring the Chargers to within five (6-1).
Alleghany put up a three-spot in the top of the third.
Robertson hit Craft and walked Dalton Nicely to put two on with one out. Both runners advanced into scoring position after a wild pitch and Bradley plated Craft with an RBI groundout.
Nichols came on in relief and hit nine-hole hitter Ashby Tayor and Jerrod Groves followed with a two-run single to increase Alleghany’s lead to 9-1.
Bath County cut their deficit to seven with a single run in the bottom of the fifth when Persinger drew a walk, stole second, moved to third on Eric Gentry’s groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
Alleghany countered with a two-run sixth.
Jacob Vaughan and Carter roped back-to-back singles and a Bath County fielding error allowed both runners to move into scoring position. Craft plated Vaughan with a groundout to second and Travis Fridley followed with an RBI double to right-center field to make the score 11-2.
The Chargers notched an unearned run off Mountaineer reliever Craft in the bottom of the sixth.
Deeds reached on an error and Harvey followed with a single. A catcher’s interference call allowed both runners to advance 90 feet and Eric Woodzell plated Deeds with an RBI groundout.
Alleghany inflicted further damage in the top of the seventh.
De’Andre Burks drew a lead-off walk, Kevin Tremblay was hit by a pitch and Vaughan was walked to load the bags with no outs.
Carter followed with an RBI groundout and Craft backed that with a two-run single. Craft scored later in the inning on BC’s sixth error of the game to make it 15-3.
The Chargers notched a single run in the seventh when Gentry walked, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Brinkley’s RBI single to make it 15-4.
Dakota Nicely picked up the win on the mound for Alleghany, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out two and walked four.
Craft allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in two innings of relief, striking out one and walking one.
Robertson took the mound loss for Bath County after surrendering eight runs (seven earned) on five hits over two and a third innings pitched.
The Bath County pitching staff was guilty of seven walks and four hit batters.
“We have got to get better on the mound,” said Bath County coach Chase Davidson. “We can’t keep putting nine and 10 guys on base a game and expect to win. It’s just not going to happen.”
“While we’ve been hitting the ball well, we need to clean up the little things that make differences in games,” said Rice. “That’s not going to cut it when we get into district play.
“We’ve got a big test come Saturday at Turner Ashby,” added Rice. “We’ll find out what we’re made of.”
Alleghany (5-0-1) heads to T.A. Saturday for a doubleheader slated to begin at 1 p.m.
Bath County (1-6) will be back in action next Tuesday when they open Pioneer District play on the road at district powerhouse James River.
