DANVILLE, Va. — Usually, when someone sees 17 points scored in a sporting event, they think it’s football. On Tuesday, it was baseball. Danville fell in the second matchup of a two-game set against Elizabethton, 17-1.
The tsunami started with the first six River Rider batters crossing the plate in the first inning. Jordan Crosland started things off with a loud double to right-center, then back-to-back walks, two hit-by-pitches and a single all happened before the first out was recorded. Another run scored before the inning ended. The River Riders sent 12 men to the plate.
“More than anything, the game just got away from us, and we were not able to respond,” Danville manager Mickey Tettleton said. “It’s gonna happen. As long as we play these silly games, there’s going to be nights like this.”
Elizabethton scored at least three runs in each of the next three innings. Danville’s only run came in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Jaxon Goldberg, plating Alex Conover. After that, Elizabethton shut the offense down, limiting the Otterbots to three hits, all of which were singles.
Five Danville pitchers, each making their first appearance of the year, were called on in this game. They combined for 10 strikeouts. They also gave seven free passes.
The Otterbots fell to 1-4 on the season; all involved would agree that this is not an ideal start for a team that took home the Appalachian League title just last year. They look to right the ship as they travel to Pulaski (3-2) and take on the River Turtles in a two-game series starting Wednesday.
“This is one where you just need to wash it. We’ll see what happens tomorrow,” Tettleton said.
For more information on 2025 single-game tickets, season tickets, corporate partnerships and group outings, email matt@danvilleotterbots.com or call the Otterbots front office at 434-554-4487. The Danville Otterbots will play their home games at American Legion Field at Dan Daniel Memorial Park.
