River Riders bats sputter, drop opener to Dough Boys
Published 4:55 pm Wednesday, June 14, 2023
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Star Photo/Ron Marvel River Riders outfielder Logan Sanders hits a grounder to shortstop during Tuesday night action against the JC Dough Boys.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel River Riders pitcher Hunter Porter fires the pitch home for a strike.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel River Riders shortstop Peyton Bassler displays sharp focus on a ground ball.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
The Elizabethton River Riders had a difficult time getting their bats going Tuesday night as they faced off against their local rivals the Johnson City Dough Boys; only mustering three hits in the contest. The Dough Boys would get on the board first when Cody Miller would use his speed to reach on an infield single and then steal second and third. He would then finish off displaying his flash by scampering home on a wild pitch and giving the Dough Boys and early 1-0 lead in the first inning. River Rider left fielder Matty Wright would knot the game up in the third by hitting a towering fly ball that would carry over the center field fence and tie things 1-1.
The Dough Boys would grab the lead for good in the fourth inning when Caleb took an elevated pitch and bounced it off the centerfield wall for a double and then pick up another run in the fifth when RJ Ibanez scored off a sac fly off the bat off Cody Miller. The final Dough Boy run would come in the seventh when Braden Spano would hit a bomb off River Rider pitcher Jordan Porter over the left-center wall. The River Riders would try to rally in the eighth inning loading the bases with just one out off a couple walks and a hit batter; bringing the blistering Ethan Stizman to the plate who has been flirting with the .400 mark in the young season. Unfortunately he would hit a sharp one hopper directly at Dough Boy shortstop and ETSU sophomore Cody Miller who would then start the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
River Riders Baker Cox would take the loss, even though it wasn’t a bad outing for the youngster from Spartanburg Methodist, he would go five innings and two runs off three hits. Stizman, King and Wright would pick up the three lone hits for the River Riders. The two game set against the Dough Boys will conclude Wednesday night at TVA Credit Union Park at 7 pm. Both Elizabethton and Johnson City stand at 4-3 in the young Appalachian season.
