The Riverheads Gladiators made the most of their only game of the week with an impressive 10-1 win over the Waynesboro Little Giants. Not only did the Big Red avenge an earlier home loss, but they continued their impressive streak of road wins against Shenandoah District teams. They have now beaten four out of five district rivals away from home, scoring an amazing 59 runs in those four victories.
Tonight they scored all they would need in the first inning as the first three batters all reached safely and two of them came around to score. It might have been an even more damaging inning if not for the fact that Waynesboro got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play, leaving Riverheads with potential runs 3 and 4 stranded at second and third.
Waynesboro then threatened to tie things up in the bottom of the first, as the lead-off batter bunted straight to the mound. It appeared that Gladiator pitcher Brody Phillips had gotten to the ball in time to nail the runner but he was called safe, much to the dismay of the visiting fans. The Giants would eventually cut the lead to 2-1 but left the tying run at third.
That would turn out to be Waynesboro's only serious threat of the game as Phillips worked a solid six innings before Logan Austin came on to retire the home team 1/2/3 in the seventh. As we were leaving the field the announcer gave the box score and I believe he said that Waynesboro had either two or three hits for the game, either of which would sound impressive from a Riverheads standpoint.
However, to Waynesboro's credit, they hung tough in the early going. Riverheads was only able to small-ball single runs in the 3rd and 4th, and even after five innings, the issue was still in doubt at 4-1. However the Gladiators broke it open with a four-run sixth inning and added two more in the seventh to account for the final tally.
With the win, Riverheads is now 7-3 in district play and should have second place in the standings nailed down, although the point system will of course determine their regional playoff picture. They will wrap up the regular season by hosting Buffalo Gap Monday night for Senior Night, followed by a trip to Staunton on Wednesday to see if they can pad that 59 run total a little bit.
As for the home game against the Bison, the Gladiators have already won 22-0 at the Gap, a night when Mr. Phillips pitched a perfect game (meaning a statistically perfect game) but when those two get together, no matter what sport, anything can happen. So don't be surprised if you come on here Monday night and read about the Bison standing up for themselves this time.
Tonight they scored all they would need in the first inning as the first three batters all reached safely and two of them came around to score. It might have been an even more damaging inning if not for the fact that Waynesboro got out of the jam with an inning-ending double play, leaving Riverheads with potential runs 3 and 4 stranded at second and third.
Waynesboro then threatened to tie things up in the bottom of the first, as the lead-off batter bunted straight to the mound. It appeared that Gladiator pitcher Brody Phillips had gotten to the ball in time to nail the runner but he was called safe, much to the dismay of the visiting fans. The Giants would eventually cut the lead to 2-1 but left the tying run at third.
That would turn out to be Waynesboro's only serious threat of the game as Phillips worked a solid six innings before Logan Austin came on to retire the home team 1/2/3 in the seventh. As we were leaving the field the announcer gave the box score and I believe he said that Waynesboro had either two or three hits for the game, either of which would sound impressive from a Riverheads standpoint.
However, to Waynesboro's credit, they hung tough in the early going. Riverheads was only able to small-ball single runs in the 3rd and 4th, and even after five innings, the issue was still in doubt at 4-1. However the Gladiators broke it open with a four-run sixth inning and added two more in the seventh to account for the final tally.
With the win, Riverheads is now 7-3 in district play and should have second place in the standings nailed down, although the point system will of course determine their regional playoff picture. They will wrap up the regular season by hosting Buffalo Gap Monday night for Senior Night, followed by a trip to Staunton on Wednesday to see if they can pad that 59 run total a little bit.
As for the home game against the Bison, the Gladiators have already won 22-0 at the Gap, a night when Mr. Phillips pitched a perfect game (meaning a statistically perfect game) but when those two get together, no matter what sport, anything can happen. So don't be surprised if you come on here Monday night and read about the Bison standing up for themselves this time.
