Riders bake Doughboys in 9-2 sweep of JC club
Published 11:41 pm Thursday, July 1, 2021
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders River Rider starting pitcher Robert Bavon (35) fires a first-inning strike against the Doughboys of Johnson City during Wednesday night’s game.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Doughboys Chyran Cruse (3) dives back into first ahead of the tag of Elizabethton first baseman Eli Young (34) tag on a pick-off play in the top of the first.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The River Riders DJ Sullivan (2) leads off the bottom half of the first inning with a solid single into left field.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders With the River Riders manager and third base coach Kevin Riggs (41) slamming the get down sign Garrison Berkley (7) slides in safely under a leaping Ashton King (10) on Sam Thompson’s (26) two run RBI single in the bottom of the first.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The River Riders Sam Thompson (26) slides into second safely after the throw went to third on his two-run RBI single to right field.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders With the River Riders manager and third base coach Kevin Riggs (41) congratulates John Montes (12) as he rounds third on his two run homer that closed out scoring in Elizabethton’s six run first inning.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Elizabethton’s DJ Sullivan (2) opened the second inning with a walk, and then got a tremendous jump on the Doughboy reliever Joe Moran (27) to easily steal second.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders River Rider right fielder Garrison Berkley (7) puts the squeeze on Johnson City’s Jaxson Crull’s (17) fly ball to deep right for the final out in the top of the third killing a potential big rally by the Doughboys.
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BY ANDREW SMITH
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Elizabethton River Riders (13-10) continued their winning ways Wednesday night, as they defeated the Johnson City Doughboys (8-14-1) by a final score of 9-2. The victory marked a sweep of the two-game series, as well as the River Riders’ seventh win in their last eight games.
The party started early for Elizabethton, as they scored six runs on five hits in the first. All nine River Rider hitters came to the plate, as Garrison Berkley, Sam Thompson, Reagan Guthrie, and John Montes all drove in runs in the inning. The frame was highlighted by a 2-run home run by Montes.
The Doughboys were able to grab one run in the top of the third, as Steven Ondina was able to earn a bases-loaded walk. However, even though the bases were loaded, Johnson City was unable to get their first hit of the night until the fourth.
Elizabethton responded with two in their half of the third, as first baseman Eli Young hit a two-run, two-out home run to extend the lead to 8-1. The River Riders got one more in the fourth by way of a leadoff jack from third baseman Johnathan “Pepe” Soto.
The defensive highlight of the night came in the top of the fifth, as with two outs Doughboys’ first baseman Joe Vetrano squared up the ball 104 MPH off of the bat back up the middle. River Riders pitcher Casey Keller then used his glove to deflect the ball back to himself, where he was then able to make the throw to first to retire the side.
Johnson City was able to get one more in the sixth, as catcher Brady Cottom hit an RBI groundout to make the game 9-2. The game became a pitchers’ duel in the last third of the game, but by then the game was well in hand.
The River Riders will be back in action Thursday as they begin a two-game series with the Princeton WhistlePigs at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.
First pitch will be at 7 pm. The Doughboys will begin a two-game home-and-home series with the Bristol State Liners Thursday, with the first pitch from TVA Credit Union Ballpark at 7 pm.
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River Riders, 9-2
Doughboys…… 2 4 0
River Riders…. 9 9 1
W: Casey Keller (2-0)
L: Jan Figueroa (0-1)
