High school spring sports have finally arrived.
Less than a week after Roanoke’s latest snow storm that closed the schools, the girls of the diamond took to the field at Cave Spring Monday afternoon as the Lady Knights blanked William Byrd 3-0 in the season opener for both teams.
Cave Spring used stellar pitching and some long-ball to secure the win.
The bats were cold for both squads in the early going as Cave Spring’s Taylor Asimakopoulos and Byrd’s Spencer Biggs settled into a pitchers duel. Asimakopoulos struck out five of the first six Terrier batters she faced in the opening two innings.
Cave Spring opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when Cortney Cooper, who had opened the frame with a single and was sacrificed to second, raced home after Madi Billings’ bunt to the left side was misplayed. The Lady Knights led 1-0.
Cooper left nothing to chance in the Cave Spring fifth when she sent a laser over the left-center field fence for a solo homer and 2-0 Knight lead.
The Lady Terriers had runners in scoring position with one out three times in the middle innings, but Asimakopoulos escaped the jam each time.
Cave Spring’s Abby Beatty added to the Lady Knight lead with a solo shot over the right-center field fence in the Knight sixth, and Asimakopoulos retired Byrd in order in the top of the seventh to register the complete-game victory.
Cave Spring head coach Nick Sharp was modest in his first win as the new varsity leader.
“We have a very young team with a lot of talent,.” Sharp said afterward. “I’m stressing to these girls to play to their potential.”
“I was glad to see the long-ball today,” Sharp added. “We have several hitters this year that can go deep.”
Asimakopoulos, a starter in the circle for Cave Spring last year, was savoring the complete-game shutout effort.
“I’ve got better stuff this year,” she said with a grin. “It’s great being the number-one starter.”
by Bill Turner
