The Alleghany Mountaineers had hit two home runs all year entering Friday’s regular season finale against Staunton River.
They more than doubled that output in one afternoon, but that was only part of the story.
Junior right-hander Alex Javins fired a five-inning no-hitter, helping himself at the plate with a two-run homer, as the Mountaineers finished the regular season in style with an 11-0 clipping of the Golden Eagles.
Derek O’Connor and Mark Hendricks also hit three-run homers to highlight Alleghany’s 10-hit attack.
“This is the way I thought we were going to hit the baseball at the start of the year,” said Alleghany coach Gary Rice. “Hitting is contagious, and not hitting is contagious. Today, it was definitely contagious.”
At the plate, Javins had two hits and drove in three. On the mound, he fanned seven and didn’t issue a walk in his 60-pitch jewel.
The only blemish between Javins and perfection was a first-inning error that allowed Staunton River leadoff hitter Paul Williams to reach base.
“A no-hitter is always good for your team,” added Rice. “A great effort by Alex both on the mound and at the plate.”
Javins was also assisted by two defensive gems behind him.
Second baseman Ethan Nicely’s diving catch over his shoulder in short right robbed Williams to end the third, while another diving catch by right fielder Trent Rust took a potential hit away from Matt Daniels in the fourth.
“Two super defensive plays,” Rice assessed. “Those saved two hits right there.”
Javins gave himself all the run support he would need in the first.
Seth Bradley sliced a double down the left-field line with two outs, and Javins later singled him home, giving the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead.
They then busted it open with five more in the second. An error kept the inning alive, and the Mountaineers made the Golden Eagles pay for their miscue.
O’Connor’s three-run blast over the screen in right with two outs increased the Alleghany lead to 6-0.
J.B. Brown singled to open the home third, and after Nick Ferrell coaxed a walk, Hendricks sent one sailing over the right field fence, increasing the Alleghany lead to 9-0.
Ironically, Hendricks and O’Connor had the only Alleghany home runs on the season entering Friday’s contest.
O’Connor’s walk set the table for Javins in the sixth, who followed with a line shot over the center-field fence, giving the Mountaineers an 11-0 lead.
Nicely, Michael Richardson, Daniel Persinger and Rust also had hits for the Mountaineers.
With the win, Alleghany closed a 14-6 regular season, 5-5 in the Blue Ridge District.
They host Rockbridge County Monday in the first round of the Blue Ridge tournament. Action then moves to Casey Field Tuesday where Monday’s winner will tangle with Northside in one semifinal matchup.
“We’re taking it one day at a time,” Rice said. “We’re hoping everything will carry over into next week.”
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