The Shadow
LOW MOOR, Va. (VR) – The Alleghany Cougars delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday, securing an 8-3 victory over the Rustburg Varsity Red Devils. The win was powered by an outstanding pitching performance from Emma Skidmore, who struck out 10 batters and kept the Red Devils’ offense in check throughout the game.
Skidmore, who pitched six and one-third innings, allowed just three hits and two earned runs while walking four batters. Her ability to control the game from the mound played a pivotal role in the Cougars’ success.
Rustburg initially jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Nahla Bigham hit a two-run homer to right field. But the Cougars answered back quickly in the bottom of the second inning. Paige Webb launched a solo home run to left field, tying the game at 2-2. The Cougars’ resilience at the plate was on full display as they kept pressure on Rustburg’s pitching throughout the game.
The key moment came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Laken Cantrell hit a double, driving in two runs and giving the Cougars a 5-2 lead. The Cougars continued to build on their lead in the sixth inning. Kelsey Nicely powered a solo home run to center field, and Bryce Leitch followed with a double that brought in another run, extending the lead to 8-2.
The Cougars’ offense was relentless, collecting 12 hits in total. Kelsey Nicely, Bryce Leitch, Addison Morris, Bri Terrell, and Paige Webb each contributed with multiple hits, while Cantrell and Webb drove in two runs apiece. It wasn’t just the offense that excelled, however—the Cougars were also flawless in the field, committing no errors and showcasing sharp defensive play. Bri Terrell, in particular, was solid in the field, handling 13 chances without a mistake.
“Everyone did their job today,” Coach Morris said. “Whether it was getting timely hits, playing solid defense, or getting outs when we needed them, this was a total team effort. We’re growing and getting better with each game, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Coach Morris remains focused on the next challenge: “We’ve got a big weekend ahead of us with two tough teams. We’ll take these next two days to prepare and keep improving, but today’s win was a great example of what this team is capable of.”
