By Randy Arrington
LURAY, March 21 — With the temperature falling to 40 degrees by game’s end, the Page County Panthers wrapped up their third-straight win to open the 2023 season in just five innings on Tuesday with a 10-0 victory at rival Luray.
Page County junior Colby Cave got the win after going the distance on the mound through five chilly innings. The southpaw recorded eight strikeouts compared to only one walk, and only gave up three hits. Among his 83 pitches, 52 were strikes (63 percent).
At the plate, the Panthers belted 13 hits on the day, with four players recording two hits each. Senior Hayden Plum went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Junior Sean Cave, the designated hitter, went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior Adam Short and senior Jacob Williams also went 2-for-3, with Williams posting an RBI and scoring two runs.
The Bulldogs only mustered three hits on the day, but stranded four runners on base, including one on third. Freshman Connor Hilliard, junior Cameron Weaver and sophomore Josh Richards delivered Luray’s three hits. Junior Landon Vile took the loss on the mound after being pulled in the fourth. Vile recorded six strikeouts in only three innings of work, but the right-hander also gave up seven hits and six runs as well.
After a scoreless first inning, Page posted three runs in the second off a single by Williams and a two-RBI single to centerfield from Plum. The Panthers then scored three more runs in the third off two errors and a passed ball. The 6-0 lead held until the visitors tacked on four more in the top of the fifth off singles by senior Gunnar Strickler and junior Jordan Foster, and a two-RBI single to left field by sophomore Tyler Monger.
Only one Panther that stepped to the plate on Tuesday failed to record a hit, and that player still notched an RBI due to an error. Page left seven runners stranded on base.
With the win, the Panthers remain undefeated in the early going and move to 3-0. Up next, Page County hosts Rappahannock on Thursday at 7 p.m., before traveling to Warren County for a 6 p.m. start on Monday.
For the Bulldogs, Tuesday marked the third loss in four games to open the season. However, a narrow 4-3 loss to Rock Ridge came in eight innings on March 18 — just prior to a 1-0 win over Annandale the same day during an early season tournament. Next up, Luray travels to Woodstock to take on Central this Thursday at 7:30 p.m., before hosting East Rockingham at 6 p.m. on Monday.
For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.
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