Andrew Golladay and Austin Craft combined forces to handcuff the usually-potent Cougar bats as the Big Red posted a crucial road victory. The Gladiators are now 4-3 at the halfway mark of district play and 10-3 overall. Although there is no district title per se, due to the conference set-up, the Big Red is well-positioned at the moment for post-season play and the schedule is favorable the rest of the way as most of their big road tilts are now behind them.
RHS did not necessarily swing the big stick in this one, but instead got timely hits when they needed them, ran the bases aggressively, and played great defense, especially in the first two innings when the Cougars had a pair of golden opportunities to take charge and establish momentum. But the Gladiators instead worked out of both jams and the only SD run on the night came in the fourth when Golladay walked in a run.
Riverheads bunched its four runs (not 7 as the Shenandoah website shows at the moment) into the middle three innings. They pushed across a solo run in the top of third, and then got their big break in the fourth on a bases loaded knock right up the middle that skipped out of the infield and allowed two runs to score. They then added an insurance run in the 5th after the Cougars had gotten on the board.
But it was the Gladiator defense that shined throughout the game, especially in the first two innings. Golladay started for RHS and the first two Cougar hitters rapped his first offering out into the gaps. As a result, just two pitches into the game, SD had runners on second and third with nobody out. But the Big Red clamped down on them and moments later a great throw from left field kept the runner from scoring on a sure-fire sac fly and the Gladiators eventually escaped the inning with no damage.
Then in the Draft second, a hit into left field seemed almost certain to plate the first run of the game but a perfect throw nailed the runner at the plate. The Gladiators then scored their first three runs to open up the lead and coasted to the win. Golladay worked the first four innings to get the win, and Craft was just as effective in the save.
The Gladiators were not afraid to gamble in this one and stole second at least four or five times to put runners in scoring position in key situations. RHS will start the second swing through district play Tuesday with a home game against Luray. However, the monsoon that is forecast for the next few days may impact that, as some sources say we will be seeing rain all the way through Tuesday.
RHS did not necessarily swing the big stick in this one, but instead got timely hits when they needed them, ran the bases aggressively, and played great defense, especially in the first two innings when the Cougars had a pair of golden opportunities to take charge and establish momentum. But the Gladiators instead worked out of both jams and the only SD run on the night came in the fourth when Golladay walked in a run.
Riverheads bunched its four runs (not 7 as the Shenandoah website shows at the moment) into the middle three innings. They pushed across a solo run in the top of third, and then got their big break in the fourth on a bases loaded knock right up the middle that skipped out of the infield and allowed two runs to score. They then added an insurance run in the 5th after the Cougars had gotten on the board.
But it was the Gladiator defense that shined throughout the game, especially in the first two innings. Golladay started for RHS and the first two Cougar hitters rapped his first offering out into the gaps. As a result, just two pitches into the game, SD had runners on second and third with nobody out. But the Big Red clamped down on them and moments later a great throw from left field kept the runner from scoring on a sure-fire sac fly and the Gladiators eventually escaped the inning with no damage.
Then in the Draft second, a hit into left field seemed almost certain to plate the first run of the game but a perfect throw nailed the runner at the plate. The Gladiators then scored their first three runs to open up the lead and coasted to the win. Golladay worked the first four innings to get the win, and Craft was just as effective in the save.
The Gladiators were not afraid to gamble in this one and stole second at least four or five times to put runners in scoring position in key situations. RHS will start the second swing through district play Tuesday with a home game against Luray. However, the monsoon that is forecast for the next few days may impact that, as some sources say we will be seeing rain all the way through Tuesday.
