Three Bull Run District games this week for Bulldogs
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, April 5 — When the first pitch crossed the plate on Friday, the temperature was in the upper 40s, the clouds were darkening, the winds were picking up. Soon, the game’s continuation would be in question as intermittent rain and sleet, (yes, either sleet or hail) kept threatening. However, the game would go a full seven innings. By the final out, the temperature was preparing to dip into the 30s and the Bulldogs found themselves on the losing end of a, 9-3, Bull Run District matchup with Rappahannock.
Luray jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Friday after senior catcher Cameron Weaver belted a solid single to left field to drive in the game’s first run.
The visiting Panthers answered back in the top of the second with five runs off three hits and a Bulldog error. Rapp sent 11 batters to the plate and left three men on base in a big inning spurred by RBI-singles from junior Tucker Atkins and sophomore Jacob Brown. Three runs were unearned via an error and a walk.
Rapp added four more runs in the third to take a 9-1 lead behind a pair of two-run, RBI singles from senior Hunter Compton and junior Cody Marcus.
The Bulldogs were able to put up two more runs in the bottom of the third behind an RBI-single from senior Jacob Shenk and a ground out RBI from senior Christian Lentz.
Both teams went cold at the plate in the final four innings, although Rapp left three runners stranded in the top of the fourth and Luray left two on base in the bottom of the fifth. An error, walk and hit batter helped Rapp load the bases, while Luray picked up back-to-back singles in the fifth from Shenk and sophomore Connor Hilliard.
Starting Rapp pitcher Jeremiah Phillips picked up the win on the mound, as the Panthers move to 2-6 on the season and 1-4 in the Bull Run. Rapp’s only other win was over Riverheads, 2-0 on March 26. In their first district win, Rapp was lead by Brown and freshman Xavier Todd with two hits each. Both Marcus and Compton recorded two RBI on their only hit of the day, accounting for four of the Panthers’ six earned runs.
For the day, Rapp recorded nine runs on eight hits and four errors, in addition to six walks and two hit batters in the first four innings. Next up, the Panthers travel back to Page County to face the Panthers of Page on April 15 following this week’s spring break.
Luray was lead on Friday by Shenk and Weaver, who both went 2-for-3 at the plate, with an RBI-single each. Hilliard was the only other Bulldogs to muster two hits, going 2-for-4. Luray used three pitchers on Friday, with senior Mason Seekford shutting down the Panthers after appearing in the fifth in relief.
The Bulldogs drop to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the Bull Run. Up next, Luray has a tough week with three district games in four days. On Monday, the Bulldogs travel to Mt. View, followed by another road game at Clarke on Tuesday. They end the week hosting Strasburg on Thursday at Bulldog Field.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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