The Shadow
STAUNTON, Va. (VR) – Alleghany wasted no time setting the tone, then kept the pressure on in a 12-2 win over Riverheads.
Kaylee Nicely delivered the early spark, launching a two-run home run in the first inning to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Riverheads answered with a run in the bottom half, but that was as close as it would get.
Alleghany broke the game open in the second. Ava Howard, Paige Webb, and Emma Skidmore all delivered RBI singles as the Cougars strung together hits and capitalized on baserunners to push the lead to 6-1. The inning featured consistent contact and aggressive baserunning that Riverheads couldn’t contain.
Skidmore stayed productive at the plate in the third, adding another RBI single to extend the advantage to 7-1.
The fourth inning put the game out of reach. Alleghany scored five runs, highlighted by a Paige Webb two-run home run and multiple runs scoring off errors, hit-by-pitches, and timely hits. Brooklyn Taylor added an RBI single in the surge as the Cougars built a 12-1 cushion.
In the circle, Emma Skidmore handled the bulk of the work, recording multiple strikeouts and limiting Riverheads’ chances. Defensively, Alleghany turned a key double play in the second and consistently made routine plays to shut down rallies.
Riverheads managed a run in the fourth and threatened late with extra-base hits, but Alleghany closed it out without allowing momentum to shift.
Nicely and Webb led the power at the plate with home runs, while Skidmore contributed both in the circle and offensively. The Cougars finished with a balanced attack, scoring in four different innings and controlling the game throughout.
