Kristian Barcroft's bases-clearing three-run double capped off a five-run 8th-inning rally as the River City Skippers came from behind Sunday night to defeat the Virginia Beach Valor 8-6.
The dramatic victory at Knobbs Creek Park was the final home game of the season for the Skippers, the hometown summer collegiate baseball club for Elizabeth City.
Going into the bottom of the 8th inning, the Skippers trailed 6-3 as they stepped in to face Ben Adams, the fourth pitcher of the night for Virginia. Jaden Greenidge got the inning started with a base on balls, and then Cade Irwin also walked. A bunt by catcher Ashton Kehren was fielded cleanly but thrown low past first base and down the foul line. Greenidge scored with Irwin moving to third and Kehren to second base. The tying runs were now in scoring position.
Next up was Darryl Husband of Lincoln University who has seen a lot of action recently as a pitcher but had entered this game as an outfielder and was getting his first at bat. The lefty swinger sliced a soft line drive to left that dropped safely, scoring Irwin. Anders Brown walked, and the bases were loaded still with no outs.
Kristian Barcroft had entered the game in the top of the 8th inning and struck out three Virginia batters around a base on balls. The junior at Ferrum College was now at the plate with a chance to give his team its first lead of the ballgame.
He wasted no time drilling the first pitch deep to right centerfield. The ball caromed off the fence, just missing a grand slam home run by about two feet. The double cleared the bases and gave River City a 2-run lead.
"I went up there thinking that he (Adams) would probably try to get the first pitch over for a strike to get ahead," Barcroft said later. "I was looking fastball, and that was what he threw, a little down and slightly inside which is a good hitting zone for me."
The Valor relieved with pitcher Phil Forbes who retired the next three River City batters without further damage.
The Skippers needed only to prevent the Valor from scoring two in the top of the ninth to secure the win. But the late-game drama wasn't over. Barcroft hit the first batter, and then pinch-hitter Sam Colesano singled a 3-2 pitch to left.
Skippers manager Jack Colagiovanni had seen enough. He replaced Barcroft on the mound with Jaden Greenidge to try and get the final three outs.
The next Valor batter tried to sacrifice bunt and move the runners into scoring position, but Greenidge got the lead runner on a force at third. He then got a called strike three on the next hitter, and the final batter popped out to first to end the game.
Up until the 8th inning the Skippers had struggled offensively and made some costly mistakes in the field. River City starting pitcher T.J. Norvell hit a batter in each of the first three innings but didn't allow a hit or run. He hurt himself in the fourth with a wild pickoff throw to third that allowed Virginia to score the first run of the game. A second unearned run scored in the fifth inning on a wild throw to centerfield on a double steal. The Valor led 2-0 even though they had but one base hit at the time.
The Skippers got one back in the bottom of the fifth. Rowan Hudson doubled down the line into the left field corner. One out later, Jalen Greenidge lined a solid single to center to drive him home.
Virginia Beach would push their advantage to 6-1 with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Four base hits, a hit batter, a walk, and a dropped tag at home gave the visitors a commanding lead, but the River City comeback would start in the home half of the seventh inning.
With one out, the speedy Brown beat out an infield hit. With Brown running, Jalen Greenidge lined his second hit to left with an overthrow putting runners on second and third. Ivan Santos stroked a grounder to the right side of the infield and beat the throw to first with a run scoring. Ryan Bibb would ground to third, but Greenidge scored on the throw to first.
Doyle McNew then singled sharply to right, but Santos was thrown out at home with a perfect throw from the right fielder. Nevertheless, the two runs got River City back in the game and set up the game-winning 8th inning rally.
The Skippers were scheduled to conclude their 2024 Old North League season with two games on the road Monday at Lancer Field in Kinston, the first against the New Bern Southpaws and the second against the home team Kinston Wingmen. Results of both games were not immediately available.
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