The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – A promising start turned into a frustrating finish for the Alleghany Cougars Varsity baseball team on Tuesday night, as they saw a five-run lead vanish in a 6-5 loss to the Patrick County Cougars in a dramatic late-inning comeback.
The Cougars came out firing in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a Patrick County error that opened the scoring. Tyler Jackson followed with a clutch two-run double, giving Alleghany a 3-0 advantage. In the second, Rilee Webb grounded out but brought in another run, extending the lead to 4-0 and putting Alleghany firmly in control.
Alleghany appeared poised for a solid victory, but the momentum shifted sharply in the fifth inning. Patrick County stormed back with five runs on four hits, including a two-run double by Jackson Horton and RBI singles from Calvin Lancaster and Easton Harris. A costly error allowed the go-ahead run to cross the plate, tying the game at five.
Despite a resilient defensive effort in the sixth, Alleghany couldn’t hold off Patrick County in the seventh, when a timely single sealed the visitors’ comeback and handed the Cougars a tough one-run loss.
On the mound, Tucker Phillips started for Alleghany, going four and two-thirds innings while giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits. Trey Cook took the loss in relief, surrendering two runs—one earned—over two and one-third innings.
Offensively, Jackson led Alleghany with two RBIs and a hit. Phillips, Tanner Hoke, Carson Brown, and Jalen Raether also contributed with one hit apiece, but the bats went quiet after the early innings.
Patrick County’s Greely Terry earned the win in relief, shutting down Alleghany over four innings and allowing just one hit. Horton not only pitched the opening three innings but also went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs, anchoring Patrick County.
