For the second time this season, Riverheads shut out county rival Buffalo Gap by a 10-0 score. They needed six innings to get the job done out at the Gap but tonight they only needed five.
This was also the Big Red's third 10-0 slaughter-rule game of the year as they earlier knocked off Central Woodstock by that score. Which brings me to a correction I need to make. In a recent post I had reported that the leading home-run hitter, Henley Dunlap, had four of them on the season, all of which had come on the road. Well tonight a family member of his corrected me and reminded me that one of those had come in that home game against Central.
So I was right about three of those homers being scored in enemy territory (Waynesboro, Fort Defiance and Wilson to be specific), but the remaining one did indeed occur right here in Greenville. My apologies for that error.
Now I am sure all you inquiring minds want to know if he added to that total in tonight's game. Well you will have to stay tuned to find out.
Sophomore Asher Falls took the mound for the Big Red tonight and as you can see from the score, kept the Bison scoreless. He was relieved late in the game by senior Carson Kuhn, who was equally effective. The Bison managed to get runners to third base on two occasions but the Gladiators worked out of the jam each time.
Meanwhile the Gladiators did most of their damage in two big innings...the second and the game-clinching fifth. After scoring a single tally in the home half of the first, they put the game out of reach with a four-run second inning. The big base knock came from shortstop Logan Austin, who sneaked a bases-loaded double just inside the left field line and deep into the corner. Two runs scored and fans wanted the third guy to try for it, but he stopped at third, although he too eventually scored.
After a pair of scoreless innings that saw the Bison make their two mini-threats, the Gladiators then put the game away and sent everyone home early with a five-run fifth inning that saw not one, but two shots over the left field fence.
The first of those came from the lead-off batter, catcher Chase Donathan. Dunlap followed him and rapped a deep double to right-center field. He then came around to score the Big Red's 7th run of the game.
The hits kept coming and just when we least expected it, center-fielder Kendall Edwards jacked a three-run shot to almost the same spot as Donathan's. It took some folks in the stands a few moments to realize that he had just ended the game because of the 10-run slaughter rule.
Based on my faulty memory regarding Dunlap, maybe I should not say this, but I "believe" it was the first career homer for either of those gentleman. Regardless I am sure Dunlap did not mind sharing the spotlight with them tonight and if anyone else wants to knock one out of the park before the season is over, I am sure that will be OK as well.
The Gladiators now turn their attention toward another event..........tomorrow night's graduation ceremony. They will then return to the diamond one last time at home to face Fort Defiance on Tuesday and will then travel to Staunton for a make-up date Wednesday. That game was rained out twice this week.
Speaking of rain-outs, the Lady Gladiators were scheduled to host Buffalo Gap tonight on the adjoining diamond, but the decision was made to postpone that game due to field conditions. The Big Red have been on somewhat of a roll lately and will be anxious to continue that surge whenever weather and the schedule permit.
This was also the Big Red's third 10-0 slaughter-rule game of the year as they earlier knocked off Central Woodstock by that score. Which brings me to a correction I need to make. In a recent post I had reported that the leading home-run hitter, Henley Dunlap, had four of them on the season, all of which had come on the road. Well tonight a family member of his corrected me and reminded me that one of those had come in that home game against Central.
So I was right about three of those homers being scored in enemy territory (Waynesboro, Fort Defiance and Wilson to be specific), but the remaining one did indeed occur right here in Greenville. My apologies for that error.
Now I am sure all you inquiring minds want to know if he added to that total in tonight's game. Well you will have to stay tuned to find out.
Sophomore Asher Falls took the mound for the Big Red tonight and as you can see from the score, kept the Bison scoreless. He was relieved late in the game by senior Carson Kuhn, who was equally effective. The Bison managed to get runners to third base on two occasions but the Gladiators worked out of the jam each time.
Meanwhile the Gladiators did most of their damage in two big innings...the second and the game-clinching fifth. After scoring a single tally in the home half of the first, they put the game out of reach with a four-run second inning. The big base knock came from shortstop Logan Austin, who sneaked a bases-loaded double just inside the left field line and deep into the corner. Two runs scored and fans wanted the third guy to try for it, but he stopped at third, although he too eventually scored.
After a pair of scoreless innings that saw the Bison make their two mini-threats, the Gladiators then put the game away and sent everyone home early with a five-run fifth inning that saw not one, but two shots over the left field fence.
The first of those came from the lead-off batter, catcher Chase Donathan. Dunlap followed him and rapped a deep double to right-center field. He then came around to score the Big Red's 7th run of the game.
The hits kept coming and just when we least expected it, center-fielder Kendall Edwards jacked a three-run shot to almost the same spot as Donathan's. It took some folks in the stands a few moments to realize that he had just ended the game because of the 10-run slaughter rule.
Based on my faulty memory regarding Dunlap, maybe I should not say this, but I "believe" it was the first career homer for either of those gentleman. Regardless I am sure Dunlap did not mind sharing the spotlight with them tonight and if anyone else wants to knock one out of the park before the season is over, I am sure that will be OK as well.
The Gladiators now turn their attention toward another event..........tomorrow night's graduation ceremony. They will then return to the diamond one last time at home to face Fort Defiance on Tuesday and will then travel to Staunton for a make-up date Wednesday. That game was rained out twice this week.
Speaking of rain-outs, the Lady Gladiators were scheduled to host Buffalo Gap tonight on the adjoining diamond, but the decision was made to postpone that game due to field conditions. The Big Red have been on somewhat of a roll lately and will be anxious to continue that surge whenever weather and the schedule permit.
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