NEW MARKET – Southmont
looked to come out and turn some heads on their Senior Night Friday against
Danville. The Warriors rode on timely hitting to get ahead early and clutch
pitching by their pitcher to stay ahead and defeat the Mounties 5-2.
Following two quick,
uneventful innings, Danville jumped out to an early lead after a double and RBI
single by Collin Rutan in the third. They added another just an inning later
after a lead-off walk and a pair of singles.
In the meantime, Danville
pitcher Riley Weston was dealing. Weston only allowed one hit through five
innings and ended the game by only giving up three.
“We had a bad approach at
the plate and that showed with all of our easy outs and pop-ups. We have team
speed but in order to utilize that we need to hit the ball on the ground rather
than trying to swing for the fences,” Southmont coach Jamie Welliever said.
Danville would go on to
score three runs in the seventh to make the score 5-0 going into the bottom of
the seventh. That is when the Mountie offense came alive.
Southmont senior Zach Worm
started off the inning with a single up the middle. Senior Aaron Cox and junior
Risty Bullerdick followed it up with walks. Brandon Rogers knocked in a run and
an error by Danville brought the score to 5-2.
Weston closed the door to
get the win for Danville and earn the complete game. Weston threw seven innings
on 86 pitches, striking out two and walking three.
Welliever praised his
seniors (Koy Archer, Aaron Cox, Hunter Isenberg, Zach Worm) after the game,
“I’ve been coaching this group of boys for six years now. They’re a really good
bunch and do things the right way by example. We have been blessed to have them
around the last couple years. I want Southmont baseball to be known for quality
men like them.”