River Riders skim past Doughboys
Published 11:50 pm Wednesday, June 30, 2021
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders River Riders first baseman Chase Adkison (27) slaps the tag on Johnson City’s Joe Vetrano (38) as he goes by for the final out of the first inning, after the throw from shortstop Marcus Brown (23) pulls him off the bag.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The River Riders starting pitcher Drew Gillespie (21) fires a warmup pitch just prior to the start of Tuesday nights game against the Doughboys of Johnson City.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton’s Marcus Brown (23) gets the bottom of the fourth off with a fly ball that drops between the right and center fielder for a single.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton’s Sam Thompson (26) has his bat shattered as hits into a double play to end the first inning.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders River Riders first baseman Chase Adkison (27) stretches for the throw that was just late as the Doughboys Steven Ondina (2) beats out an infield single in the top of the fourth inning.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Doughboy’s Damani Thomas (4) strikes out but Elizabethton catcher Knox Preston (10) dropped the swinging third strike and had to throw Thomas out at first to end the inning.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders After reaching on an infield single in the top of the fourth Johnson City’s Steven Ondina (2) is picked off trying to steal second by pitcher Drew Gillespie (21), second baseman Jonathan “Pepe” Soto (25) applies the tag.
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BY ANDREW SMITH
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Elizabethton River Riders (12-10) returned to a picture-esque Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark Tuesday night after a six-game road trip and were able to begin their four-game homestand with a 6-5 victory over the Johnson City Doughboys (8-13-1).
The game was a pitchers’ duel early on, as Johnson City’s Steven Casey and Elizabethton’s Drew Gillespie matched zeros in the run column through the first three innings. Then, the River Riders were able to score their first run of the night in the bottom of the fourth, when Sam Thompson was able to drive in Marcus Brown with a one-out single.
The River Riders’ pitching remained dominant through the middle innings, as Gillespie and Jordan Leasure combined for seven innings of two-hit, shutout ball, with 12 strikeouts. In the sixth and seventh, Elizabethton was able to tack on three and two runs in each inning, respectively, to take a 6-0 lead into the eighth.
It was there where the Doughboys would rally. The River Riders were able to get the first two outs of the inning fairly quickly before Johnson City would erupt for five runs on three hits, capped off by an opposite-field grand slam by first baseman Joe Vetrano.
Things would not get any easier for the River Riders in the ninth, where Doughboys center fielder Jaxson Crull led off with a double, putting the tying run in scoring position. However, Nathan Williams would strike out the next three Johnson City hitters to secure the victory for Elizabethton.
The River Riders will be back in action against the Doughboys Wednesday night at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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River Riders, 6-5
Doughboys 5 6 2
River Riders 6 7 0
W-Jordan Leasure (2-0)
L-Steven Casey (1-1)
