Lopsided win over King William sets the tone for Goochland baseball

ROBBY FLETCHER

Sports Editor

Goochland’s baseball season has arrived, with the Bulldogs returning five starters from last year’s squad that closed out 2022 with a 4-15 record while learning the ropes of their new district.

This season, the Bulldogs bring up an experienced bunch, one that’ll see many returnees stepping into different roles on the team as they replace a few key graduates.

In their first games of the season, Goochland fans got a small glimpse of what this team could be at their best, as evidenced by an assertive 9-1 beatdown over King William on March 16, and what they need to work on, as shown in a 12-2 loss to Caroline and a 19-9 loss to William Monroe.

It was a chance to also see some new faces looking to make their names known around campus, with newcomers like Will Johns, Jackson Bell and DJ Jones getting some early action on the field. All three impressed in the King William win, with Johns earning an RBI on a groundout, Bell getting a run and Jones delivering a three-run home run that sailed past the left center fence in the bottom of the third to make it an 8-0 lead.

Jones’ home run was one of many highlights in that third frame, with the Bulldogs railing off seven runs in that inning alone. Before Jones cracked a shot out of play, the Bulldogs scored two runs off an error on a ground ball from senior Graham Michael Fletcher-Mintz, another off a Bell pop fly and one more on an RBI single from senior Riley Hite.

After sacrificing their only run of the game in the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs responded right back with their final run of the game off of a walk that advanced senior Reese Vincent home.

The Bulldogs got excellent production on the rubber from Fletcher-Mintz throughout the game, with the pitcher making a six-inning appearance and allowing a single hit while striking out eight batters and walking four more. He along with fellow seniors Chase Breedlove and A.J. Condrey as well as the freshman contributor Jones are expected to carry the load on the mound for the Bulldogs this season.

While the Caroline matchup was one that saw the Bulldogs outplayed with a monster stretch in the middle of the game to take a 12-2 lead after five innings, the matchup against William Monroe saw the Bulldogs coming out with the hot start.

Goochland led 4-1 after four innings, but things quickly turned sour when the Dragons exploded for six runs to take the lead at 6-4. A Hite RBI double tied things back up after five innings, but once the Dragons obtained hitting momentum, they become a force to be reckoned with, running off a ninerun sixth inning to take a 15-9 lead.

Though the Bulldogs were scoring well on their own end, it was too much of an explosion to overcome, and the hosting Bulldogs fell for their second time in three games.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a home game against the mighty Western Albemarle Warriors on Thursday, ctio nfees;todec re as etheitine rantmerchan ta nnua lp ermit fe e; to ad danitine rant me rchant sma ll space le as ep ermit fe e; an dtorem ove th ei tiner antm erchant7-day co nsecutivep ermit fe e Thefeesandratestobeaddedorchangedareasfollows: nonperishableitemspurchasedfor resale temporarybusinessoccupying alocationfor lessthan ayear) includefestivals)1-daypermit,forperishable andnonperishableitemspurchasedfor resale

March 23. The Warriors lost just one game in the region last season and are expected to be a force in the Jefferson yet again. It’ll be arguably Goochland’s biggest test to start the season, as they’ll gauge their own talents against a top-tier squad.

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