Louisa vs. Courtland (March 7, 2018)

Louisa varsity baseball got their first taste of competition on Wednesday night against the Courtland Cougars. After losing seven seniors last year, the varsity lineup was incomplete, needing the help of sophomores to fill the roster. Louisa called up three sophomores for the scrimmage on Wednesday, Michael Barber, J.B Lamb, and Price Straley, all of them earning playing time.

Tristan Snyder, William and Mary commit, started on the mound for Louisa, struggling against the first two batters he faced, allowing a run in the first inning.  Snyder then got three quick outs and Courtland took the field. Courtland pitching dominated the first three innings with no hits, two errors, and two strikeouts.

In the top of the second, Snyder returned to the mound and the Cougars scored a run after a wild pitch. Louisa quickly rallied in the bottom of the fourth inning drawing back-to-back walks, a single, and an error. With Caleb Turner on third, Austin Nicholas hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Caleb Turner.
 
For the next three innings, Louisa gave up seven runs over seven hits and five walks, using four pitchers over the three innings. Courtland pitching continued to dominate only giving up two runs on four hits and eight walks through eight innings.

Louisa lost 9-2 in eight long innings. This was not the start the Lions wanted at the beginning of their season, however, Louisa came back to win on Saturday against Collegiate, 12-3, making them 1-1 on the season.