The Shadow
SPRINGWOOD – The Bath County baseball team opened Pioneer District play Tuesday on the road at district-powerhouse James River and fell in six innings, 14-4.
Eric Gentry took the loss on the mound for the Chargers, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits over three innings of work. Gentry struck out three, walked one and hit a batter.
James River took an early 4-0 lead with two runs in each the first and second innings. Bath cut their deficit to two in the top of the third when Derek Brinkley belted a two-run bomb, but River answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to increase their lead to 7-2.
Bath cut the Knights’ lead to three (7-4) with two runs in the top of the fourth, but James River would score seven unanswered runs to take a 10-run lead after six innings of play to end the game due to the mercy rule.
“This game was a huge game and we just couldn’t seem to mentally keep it in the game,” said Bath County coach Chase Davidson. “Granted, it’s only the first district game, but we’ve dug ourselves into a hole and we can’t seem to find our way out.
“We’ve got to change the way we approach practice and games and learn how to mentally keep ourselves into the game,” added Davidson. “We have the talent on this team, but if we can’t be mentally prepared then we’re going to continue to struggle.”
Eric Woodzell led the Chargers at the plate with a 3-for-3 day and Brinkley went 2-for-3 with a double and his two-run bomb. Dillon Fry, Eric Gentry, Ryan Plecker and Matt Persinger had one hit each.
Tyler Duke, Ryan Hepler and Brent Cummings led James River with two hits each.
Bath County (1-7, 0-1) is back in action today on the road at Pocahontas, W.Va.
