U12s pick up two wins

OAK CITY — The Roanoke Valley All-stars traveled a long distance to face a local opponent in the opening round of the Eastern North Carolina Cal Ripken tournament. Thanks to the luck of the draw, Roanoke Valley took on Northampton County in the first game of the tournament and defeated their neighbors to the east, 6-2.

The Roanoke Valley team jumped on Northampton early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Northampton left two runners stranded, the Roanoke Valley squad got started right away with a deep shot to right field by Tom Eatman. Nick Horvath scored Eatman and Trey Futrell with a double. Dylan Allen then brought in Horvath with a double of his own to put Roanoke Valley ahead by three. In the bottom of the second Allen made Northampton wish the fence was back a little further when he blasted a two run homer over the center field fence to make the score 5-0 in favor of the Roanoke Valley.

 Futrell scored the final run of the afternoon for the Roanoke Valley on a passed ball. “Out hitting came together,” Roanoke Valley Head coach Rick Jordan said. “We had some good pitching. Just an all around effort from the boys.”

Notes: The Roanoke Valley All-stars came back in the afternoon game and defeated Bear Grass, 6-1. Allen was the winning pitcher for the Roanoke Valley All-stars. The squad will play again Saturday at 9 a.m.