With a lead off double from Lonnie Dillard, an RBI single from Zach Reininger and a wild pitch that scored Rahiem Cooper that was followed by a three up, three down showing on the mound from Reininger, Orange County got just about all it could want in the first inning. Unfortunately for the Hornets, everything else worked to William Monroe’s favor as the Greene Dragons cut into the lead in the second, took the lead in the third and added insurance in the sixth to secure a 6-2 win thanks to a complete game from starter Jordan Gentry.
“I think Jordan was working a little fast to start but really got loose by the third,” Maynard said. “He pounds the strike zone, he works quick and keeps the defense on its toes. I was proud of the effort he gave. He threw 103 pitches which is probably too much this time of year, but he wanted that ball in the seventh.”
After a tough first inning, Gentry settled in for the next six innings as he struck out seven batters and gave up just four hits to earn the complete game win.
“It was a game for us of missed opportunities while William Monroe made everything on their opportunities,” said Hornets coach Brian Rasnick.
Offensively, the Dragons chipped away at Orange’s 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second after a single from Austin Batten and a ground out RBI from Cody Thacker.
Monroe broke through in third to take the lead for good starting with a single from Lamar Nelson and sacrifice fly from Ryan Morris. In the next at bat, Batten brought home two more runs on a single to right field.
“I was thinking first pitch fastball because they had been doing it all night,” Batten said. “I knew I was going to swing at it, they gave it to me. We seem to always start late, but finish it (in the end).”
With just a two run lead, the Dragons padded their lead in the sixth on walk to Jack Morris, an RBI triple from Logan Forloines and a 1-run single from Ryan Morris.
“Logan doesn’t see too many strikes but it was good that he got challenged there, hopefully we can get him rolling with that,” Maynard said. “That helps that Jack Morris has been getting on base in front of him about 50 percent of the time. With Logan, Ryan Morris and Austin hitting behind that, you’ve got three really good high school hitters.”
Rasnick didn’t disagree.
“You can’t have a 2-out walk when Forloines is on deck, that hurt and he made us pay for that,” Rasnick said. “The better hitting team won tonight. The team that made fewer mistakes won. There’s no question about that.”
For Orange, Dillard finished 1 for 3 with a run scored. Cooper was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a double.
The Hornets (4-6, 3-3 Jefferson District) host Fluvanna County on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
The Dragons (9-1, 6-0) head to Western Albemarle on Monday at 5 p.m.
