The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – In an intense back-and-forth battle on Thursday, Alleghany Cougars Varsity pulled off a dramatic 7-6 victory over the Staunton Varsity Storm. The game was tied 6-6 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, where Carson Brown delivered the clutch hit of the game—a two-run double that drove in the go-ahead runs, putting Alleghany ahead for good.
Staunton drew first blood in the opening inning when Nathan Neil walked and later scored on a fielder’s choice. The Cougars answered right back in their half of the first when Brown grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing the game to even at 1-1.
The Storm regained the lead in the second inning after Christian Desper doubled to left field, setting up a run to score on a passed ball. Staunton led 2-1, but Alleghany fought back in the fifth. A fielding error by Staunton brought in two runs for the Cougars, and a wild pitch allowed another run to cross, giving Alleghany a 4-3 advantage.
Staunton responded in the top of the sixth with a surge of offense. Singles from Daniel Caswell and Gabe Johnson helped the Storm plate three runs, pushing them back in front 6-4. But the Cougars weren’t finished yet.
In the bottom of the sixth, Alleghany mounted their comeback. Kai Rowland led off with a single, then moved to second on a groundout by Jalen Raether. With two outs, Brown came up big with a two-run double to center field, giving the Cougars a 7-6 lead they would not relinquish.
Tyler Jackson was the winning pitcher for Alleghany, tossing four strong innings in relief. Jackson allowed just three hits and three runs, striking out seven and walking two. Raether came on to close out the game, earning a save in the process.
Staunton’s Dale Leslie took the loss after allowing three runs in just one and one-third innings of work. Starter Nathan Neil gave up four runs on five hits over 4.1 innings, striking out five and walking four.
At the plate, Brown led the charge for Alleghany, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the game-winning double. Rowland also finished with two hits, and Brown and Trey Cook each drove in two runs. The Cougars displayed impressive patience at the plate, drawing six walks in the game, with Jackson leading the way with three walks.
For Staunton, Caswell went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, while Johnson drove in two runs. Despite their solid offensive showing, the Storm couldn’t hold on to their late lead as Alleghany’s late-game heroics secured the victory. In a game full of momentum shifts, Alleghany proved their resilience, bouncing back from a 6-4 deficit to claim the win.
