Valiants falter against Knights

Published 9:00 am Sunday, March 19, 2017

The Valwood Valiants ran into trouble early and often Friday against the Deerfield-Windsor Knights, eventually falling 8-2.

Valwood is still in the process of finding its footing after undergoing a lot of turnover this past offseason. The Valiants lost 11 seniors (eight starters along with three contributors) from their team.

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Leading a team full of newcomers to the varsity level, Valwood head coach Robert Shipman is confident that his team will bring things together as the season progresses.

“This is brand new on varsity level,” Shipman said. “They have played on B-team, but its not the same game playing varsity baseball.

“They are working hard. I am encouraged by the improvement that we have had over the season. We gradually are getting better in increments.”

The Valiants went down 2-0 in the top of the first, but soon looked to tie the game with a rally in the bottom of the second inning. Valwood scored one run to cut into the deficit, but the rally was quickly shut down by the Knights’ defense, which was stellar all evening.

Valwood starter Joe Hopper retired the side in order in the third inning, if it wasn’t a bit of an adventure. Baylin Moore opened the inning with a double for Deerfield, only to get picked off at second by Hopper. Bryce Northrop followed with a pop out to midfield, and Cole Mitchell got a base hit and stole second before he too was picked off the base path.

Hopper couldn’t replicate the results of his scoreless third, though. The Knights scored three runs in the top of the fourth to push the lead to 5-1, taking some of the life out of the young Valiant squad’s comeback hopes.

Moore proceeded to keep Valwood off balance at the plate, holding the Valiants to their single run into final two innings, where the Knights added three more runs to their score to go up 8-1.

Valwood pushed another run across in the bottom of the seventh, but the game ended on a foul pop out to Deerfield’s first baseman.

The Valiants look to bounce back Tuesday against Southland Academy.