Cadets open season with doubleheader

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Baseball season is well underway in Goochland, with the Benedictine Cadets hosting a doubleheader showdown against a tough Archbishop Spalding squad that proved to be a big test for them to start out the year. Going into the matchup, the Cadets impressed in their scrimmages against Atlee and Godwin, winning the first against the Raiders in a 10-3 final while beating the Eagles 15-6 in their final battle for games began to count on their record.

The Cavaliers of Archbishop Spalding proved to be a tough matchup for the Cadets in both outings, winning the first game 7-3 and then taking the second one 8-2 to start their own season on a high note on the Cadets’ own field.

Daniel Lingle got the first start on the mound for the Cadets, allowing two runs on one hit in his two-inning appearance before he was relieved by Ryan Sellers, Jagen Ratlief and Eli Ranson.

The Cadets did well batting against the Cavaliers, who had pitcher Cody Sharman toss the ball for four innings. Hits from Ben Rossi, Elijah Coston and Bryce Adams got the Cadets on base, while Riley Roarty earned a run and Sellers homered one down the left side of the field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

A four-run third inning gave the Cavaliers the edge though, and they pulled away with three runs late in the game to take the first matchup despite admirable efforts from the Cadets. robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

In the tail end of the doubleheader, the Cavaliers scored four runs in the opening inning, which gave them all the space they needed to close out the game, with the Cadets never approaching that lead throughout the seven innings played.

Roarty led the way pitching for the Cadets this time around, making a threeinning appearance before being relieved by Jake Wise, Ryder Buchbinder and Coston. Roarty struck one batter out and allowed two hits and four walks in his appearance.

Down 8-0 entering the sixth, the Cadets did end the game on a high note, not allowing a run in the final two innings while a Rossi grounder sent Ryan Mangiere home in the bottom of the sixth and Mangiere hit a ground ball and sent Pierce Moten home while reaching the bag on a Cavaliers error.

The Cadets will have a chance to respond to the doubleheader defeat with a matchup against Collegiate at home on Friday, March 17 at 4 p.m. The next day, they’ll travel to face off against Flint Hill High School at 9:30 a.m. and Paul VI at 12:30 p.m.

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