The Shadow
LYNCHBURG, Va. (VR) – The Alleghany Varsity softball team faced two tough opponents this past Saturday, coming up short in both matchups but showing strong fight and resilience throughout. In the first game, the Cougars fell 6-0 to the Appomattox County Varsity Raiders, and in the second game, they were defeated by Brookville 13-10 in a high-scoring contest. Despite the losses, Alleghany’s players demonstrated offensive power and grit, building a foundation for improvement moving forward.
**Game 1: Appomattox County 6, Alleghany 0**
In the first game of the day, the Alleghany Cougars were held scoreless by a potent Appomattox County offense. The Raiders got off to an early lead, starting in the first inning with a solo home run by Bailey Hamilton to take a 1-0 lead. They added another run in the second inning with a single by Sydney Bryant, extending the lead to 2-0, and a solo home run by Paisley Mann in the third made it 3-0.
Despite the early deficit, Alleghany’s pitchers continued to battle. Starting pitcher Emma Skidmore worked 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, striking out three batters in the process. Relief pitcher Addyson Neff came in for 3.2 innings, surrendering five hits and two runs while striking out three. However, the Cougars’ offense couldn’t get going, with Appomattox’s Chloe Vaughn dominating in the circle. Vaughn tossed a complete game, allowing just two hits while striking out 15 batters and walking none.
Alleghany’s offense was limited to two hits, with Bryce Leitch and Laken Cantrell each collecting one. The Cougars did manage to turn a double play in the game, but they were unable to generate the offense needed to overcome Appomattox’s steady production.
**Game 2: Brookville 13, Alleghany 10**
The Cougars’ second game of the day against Brookville saw a dramatic shift in pace, with both teams trading blows in a high-scoring affair. Despite putting together an impressive offensive showing, Alleghany ultimately fell 13-10 in a game that featured multiple home runs and big hits from both teams.
Brookville opened the scoring in the first inning, capitalizing on two errors to take an early lead. A ground out by J Fyffe later in the second inning extended the Brookville lead to 3-1. A solo home run by A Wray in the third inning pushed the lead to 4-1, but Alleghany responded in the bottom of the fourth.
Kelsey Nicely gave the Cougars a much-needed spark, hitting a two-run home run to center field that cut Brookville’s lead to 8-7. Nicely finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, helping to keep the Cougars within striking distance. Kaylee Nicely also added two hits in the game, and Bryce Leitch contributed with three walks and two stolen bases, showcasing the team’s strong plate discipline.
Brookville added a two-run shot by A Bond in the fifth inning, extending their lead to 10-7, and ultimately held on for the 13-10 victory. Despite the loss, Alleghany’s offense showed promise with a strong display of hitting and base-running, but they were unable to overcome a potent Brookville lineup that collected 15 hits in the game. Cougar head coach Keith Morris reflected on the day’s challenges but remained confident in his team’s potential. “It was a tough loss in the Brookville tournament, but these games will help us prepare for the future,” Morris said. “We’re focusing on getting better every day, and we’ll be ready for our next matchup against Radford.”
The Lady Cougars will travel to Radford on Friday to take on the Bobcats, first pitch 5:00 p.m.
