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Signature win: Orange rallies behind Davies for big victory over Louisa

Photo: Ryan Yemen

As if Bradley Hanner’s perfect game against Powhatan on Tuesday wasn’t enough, Orange County baseball decided to put a puncuation mark on the week against Louisa County. For the last three years, Louisa County has had the Hornets’ number. On Friday in a battle of unbeatens, Orange picked up its biggest regular season win in years with their 6-2 victory over the Lions on Friday at home.

 

“This is our fourth year (since this coaching staff) took over and we had not beaten Louisa yet,” said Hornets coach Dave Rabe. “We have a quality baseball team, a baseball program now. And that’s because these kids have bought in. It’s the reason we’re playing well.”

 

Orange got a second straight complete game with Canon Davies going the distance. Davies was efficient and his defense was behind him as the sophomore threw just 79 pitches in seven innings of work. He gave up just one earned run and struck out three batters while surrendering one walk.

 

“It’s huge but we’re just trying to get better everyday and keep the momentum going,” Davies said. “I threw a lot of off-speed (pitches) just wanted to keep them off balance.”

 

The Hornets gave Davies some early run support. After Justin Beaty reached base after getting hit by a pitch, a wild pitch followed by a ground out and an RBI ground out from Christian Amos made it 1-0 in the bottom of the second. However, Louisa knotted things up at 1-1 in the top of third with an RBI triple from Cale Agee.

 

Orange responded with a 4-run bottom of the third. Tre Smith doubled and was driven in on an error. The Hornets then got back-to-back RBI singles from Will Dawson and Amos. With Dawson scoring on an error on the next play, Davies had a comfortable 5-1 lead.

 

“A lot of people wondered why we didn’t save Hanner for today,” Rabe said. “We have confidence that any given night that we can beat anybody. That’s what good teams do whether you’re throwing your number one or your number eight. It doesn’t really matter. When we can come out and get a quality win over a great program, you can’t do anything but smile.”

 

Louisa got a double from Dakota Hall in the top of the fifth and he was plated two batters later when Agee reached on an error. Orange answered that with one last piece of insurance in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI double from Smith to make it 6-2.

 

“Orange just came out and beat us — they wanted it,” said Louisa coach Kevin Fisher. “They showed they were ready to come out play and that’s why they’re still undefeated and we aren’t. We’ve got to get better to get back to winning. It’s something we have to do day-to-day. You can’t get as frustrated as we did today and expect to win.”

 

The Lions put runners on the corners in the top of the seventh with two outs, but a ground out to Hanner at shortstop ended comeback hopes.

 

On the night for Orange, Smith was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Amos went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Dawson was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

 

For Louisa, Ethan Fletcher was 3-for-3. Agee finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. John Reynolds threw four innings and gave up just one earned run and a walk to go with two strikeouts.

 

The Lions (4-1, 3-1) play Carolina Forest on Monday while Orange (9-0, 3-0) hosts Monticello on Tuesday.

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