Orange picks up win over Madison

ORANGE — After trouncing James Monroe by 17 runs earlier in the day, the Orange County baseball team had to work a little harder to pick up a 5-2 win against another non-district rival in Madison County on Saturday afternoon.

Making the most of four Mountaineers errors, the unbeaten Hornets jumped out to a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning, and added some insurance in the fifth and six innings to help pitcher Nick Bledsoe pick up the complete-game victory with out too much of a sweat.

“I was happy with the way our kids and how we closed the game out,” said Hornets coach Jesse Lohr, whose team beat James Monroe 19-2. “It’s about how you start the game, but it’s also about how you finish. I felt pretty confident with our pitching and some of our veteran leadership.”

Bledsoe struck out eight batters and surrendered just three hits.

“I felt good,” Bledsoe said. “I went out there to throw strikes and let my defense do the rest.”

Bledsoe’s teammates were up to the task. After the first two innings, Madison made solid contact with Bledsoe, but the Orange defense, experienced and quick on its feet, consistently made plays, and ended a pair of innings with runners threatening and in scoring position.

With James Madison-bound D.J. Brown and Dillon Wagner taking up the first two starting roles on the pitching staff, Lohr is pleased with Bledsoe’s effort.

“That’s his third win of the year in his third start,” Lohr said. “We’re happy with his performance. He’s our starting shortstop, but he’s also our third stud. We’re blessed to have some decent pitching.”

After giving up a run in the first, Madison took the lead in the top of the third, on a two-run double from Matt Racer — a shot to center field that would have likely cleared any fence except the one at Porterfield Park.

However, the Hornets answered right back in the bottom of the inning when Colston Bayless bunted in a run and Lazaro Torres drove in another on an error.

“We gave it to them,” said Madison coach Tom Butterworth. “[Orange] made one or two errors and it didn’t hurt them. [Bledsoe] threw well, changing speeds and keeping us off balance. You just can’t give away runs no matter who you’re playing. It hurts.”

After spending the past few weeks against Group AA opponents, the Mountaineers (2-5) will jump into Bull Run District play later this week.

Having dispatched three Jefferson District opponents already, the Hornets (7-0) will get two more this week in William Monroe and defending JD champ Louisa County.