The Shadow
LOW MOOR, Va. (VR) – Under the fading Friday evening light, with tensions high and every pitch carrying the weight of the game, the Alleghany Junior Varsity Cougars delivered a heart-pounding walk-off victory against James River High School JV, sealing a 14-13 win in a dramatic, back-and-forth battle.
It all came down to the bottom of the seventh. The game was knotted at 13. With the winning run on third and one out, Abby Patterson stepped to the plate with the weight of the game on her shoulders. Calmly and confidently, she lifted a sacrifice fly into the outfield. As the ball hung in the air, time seemed to slow. The catch was made—but it didn’t matter. The runner tagged. The crowd held its breath. The throw home was late.
Game over.
The Cougars stormed the field in celebration, the dugout erupting as the team clinched one of the wildest wins of the season.
The scoreboard told the story of an offensive slugfest. Alleghany racked up 14 hits; James River added 11. Every inning brought a new twist in this rollercoaster of a contest. James River struck first in the opening frame, but Alleghany responded with an avalanche of hits—six in total during the bottom of the first—turning the early deficit into a commanding lead.
But no lead was safe. James River stormed back in the second with five runs, capitalizing on errors and clutch hits. They clawed, chipped, and battled their way to multiple leads, including a 9-8 edge in the fourth and another in the sixth.
Just when it looked like the Cougars might be out of gas, Patterson blasted a solo homer in the fourth to tie things up, injecting new life into the dugout. Then in the sixth, Maddie Harmon’s RBI single and a lineout by Maddy Lowry swung momentum once again.
James River refused to fold. A pop-out turned into a double play in the seventh, scoring a run and tying the game at 13—all setting up the dramatic finale.
Lowry, who earned the win from the circle, fought through seven grueling innings, striking out seven and keeping the Cougars within striking distance. Patterson, who finished with three RBIs, played hero in the final moment, while Ally Cottrell led the team with three hits and two stolen bases.
The Cougars showed heart, hustle, and the never-quit attitude that defines their team. This was more than a win—it was a statement.
