The NRV Tigers travel baseball team started their season off by going 3-0-1 in their initial weekend of play, held at East Tennessee State University. The tie was with All Out Baseball by the score of 8-8. That was the second game of the day and after the Tigers had walloped the Short Pump Bandits 18-0. In the 18-0 win, former Pulaski Co. Cougar Bailey Ayers doubled and scored a run, while Fort Chiswell’s Leighton Dunford doubled, walk and scored twice while knocking in two. Chris Meredith, Shawn Campbell, AJ Cacciatorie and Tristan Shrewsbury all had two RBIs each. Galax’s Jacob Stuart got the win on the hill as he struck out four and allowed just three hits.
The tie game saw the Tigers battle back from being down 8-5 going into the fifth. The game was called in the sixth inning by the time limit. It also saw the All Out team walk off and didn’t shake hands with the Tigers. Dunford was three for three , as he had a double and triple. He scored one run and had four RBIs. Keith Reed of Auburn was two for two with two RBIs and two runs scored. Austin Parker of Tazewell and Stuart were the two pitchers used in the the game by the Tigers.
Then on Sunday the Tigers got two pitching gems from Leighton Dunford , Shawn Campbell and Taylor Newcome. They defeated Ktown Bombers 6-0 behind Dunford’s complete game as he tossed a two-hitter. He struck out six and threw just 69 pitches in the seven innings. He also helped himself at the plate as he singled, walked scored a run and knocked in one. Chris Meredith of Grayson Co. hit a home run, was two for three at the plate. His fellow Grayson Co. teammate – Shawn Campbell was two for three with a triple and scored a run. Ayers was two for three and scored a run. The other game saw the Tigers beat the Lenior Oilers 10-1. Campbell went four innings striking out five and gave up two hits. He was relieved by Newcome as he struck out three in his one inning. Meredith went two for four, scored three times as he hit a triple and double. Carter Plunkett scored four runs and had one RBI. Caleb Pritchard knocked in two and Cacciatorie had RBI and two hits. Tiger head coach Todd Davis said,” We hit the ball well all weekend and we got some outstanding pitching ,too. I thought Dunford( Leighton ) was outstanding in his seven inning complete game.” He then added,” We scored what 42 runs and had 42 hits and allowed just 17 hits and nine runs in four games.”
The Tigers will be back in action June 29-30 and July 1 at Va. Tech and Radford.