Sports roundup: Alger leads Gap softball to win; Ride with Pride 5K

Alger leads Buffalo Gap in win

FORT DEFIANCE — it was an emotional night for the Buffalo Gap Bison softball team Tuesday. The team was facing their longtime assistant coach, Logan Dunkum, who took over as Fort Defiance's head coach this season.

"We love Coach Dunkam and we miss him," Gap coach Holly Desper said. "But this was a game that the girls had their minds set that they wanted this game. We've had Logan around for years and we know him. And Logan knows us, so the girls were nervous."

Gap was able to get past the nerves and roll to a 15-3 win in the Shenandoah District game. Caroline Alger led the way both with her bat and arm. The senior had three hits, four RBIs and three runs scored in five trips to the plate. She also threw four innings of scoreless ball, striking out nine.

Alger had a lot of adrenaline coming into the game, saying she was "running off of nerves." She just wanted to get a win.

"I've been seeing the ball really well this season so far," Alger said of her hitting. "She just threw it right where I wanted it."

Gap went on top in the third inning and never relinquished the lead. After a walk and an error put two Bison on, Alger ripped a triple down the left field line to score a pair of runs. The Bison added two more in the inning to lead 4-0.

Gap added another run in the fourth before Fort tried to rally with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Bison lead to 5-2.

That was as close as Fort would get to making this a game though. Gap scored five in the fifth and five in the sixth to put the game away.

Desper called her team relentless, saying the players were going to find a way to win no matter what.

"Whatever they got, we were going to get back," Desper said. "I just like the attitude they had tonight."

Hannah Coffman also added four RBIs on three hits and freshman Rachel Showalter had a hit and three RBIs. She also pitched a pair of innings in the win. Karah Richie and Bailey Talley combined to score seven runs at the top of the order.

Gap is now 5-1 on the season and has won three games in a row.

"We're coming together really well," Alger said. "I think we're getting to the point where we want to be."

Soccer

Staunton shut out Wilson Memorial 8-0 Tuesday in boys soccer. It marked the Storm's first win over Wilson in the last four seasons. Marc Geffrard had three goals and Andrew Efird added three assists. Staunton is now 6-1-1 with six shutouts, and 3-0 in Shenandoah District play.

The Stuarts Draft girls soccer team improved to 6-2 on the season, beating Bath County 7-0 Tuesday. Lydia Monroe, Maddie Baska and Hailey Cox all scored two goals each while Angela Hibshman also added a goal and an assist. Baska and Cox also had assists in the win.

Softball

Riverheads beat Waynesboro 9-2 Tuesday to even its record at 3-3 on the season.

Cheyenne Bottenfield went the distance, pitching all seven innings and allowing just two runs, both earned. She struck out 13 in the win. Bottenfield also produced with the bat, hitting a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot in the fourth.

Maggie Robertson went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and Montana Deming went 3-for-3 with two doubles for Riverheads.

Tennis

Fort Defiance beat Stuarts Draft in girls tennis for its first win of the season. Fort won 5-4 Tuesday to improve to 1-6.

"This was a hard fought contest with the final decision coming in doubles," said Fort coach John Edgecomb.

In singles Fort’s Addyson Mooney, Madison McElveen and Savanna Monger won at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6. With the contest split three-all after singles, Fort’s No. 2 doubles team of McElveen and Lacie Thieberger won 8-3 and Fort’s No. 3 doubles team of Clara Lambert and Monger won 8-2 to secure the win for Fort.

Singles

• Mooney (FD) defeated Gevens 8-3
• McElveen (FD) defeated Lou 8-6
• Trusties (SD) defeated Lambert 8-0
• Burns (SD) defeated Armendariz-Cruz 8-3
• Fitzpatrick (SD) defeated Sushko 8-3
• Monger (FD) defeated Johnson 8-2

Doubles

• Stevens/Truslow (SD) defeated Mooney/Armendariz-Cruz 8-5
• McElveen/Thieberger (FD) defeated Lou/Burns 8-3
• Lambert/Monger (FD) defeated Fitzpatrick/Johnson 8-2

Ride With Pride 5K

Ride With Pride is holding a 5K Colorful Run/Walk Saturday, April 20. The run is along an off-road course with grass and gravel paths on a private horse farm. The race beings and ends at Cedar Creek Stables on Shutterlee Mill Road just north of Staunton.

The fundraiser benefits a program that helps children and adults with special needs through therapeutic horsemanship activities. Fundraising this year is focusing on scholarships and the veterans program.

The race is timed and there will be prizes for top finishers. There will also be characters from A Moment of Magic cheering on runners.

There is a free open house in the barn after the race with a chance to meet the therapy horses. Some students will also be demonstrating what they are learning.

More information can also be found on Ride With Pride's website event page: https://ridewithprideva.org/event/5k-color-run/

You an sign up at: https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Staunton/RideWithPrideTherapeuticHorsemanshipsAnnual5KColorfulRunWalk?remMeAttempt=

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite . Subscribe to us at newsleader.com .

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Sports roundup: Alger leads Gap softball to win; Ride with Pride 5K