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James River feeling loose, ready for state tournament

โ€˜Everybody helping everybody. Weโ€™re not here to play for ourselves.โ€™

ROANOKE, Va. โ€“ The James River softball program has reached the VHSL Class 2 State Tournament for the first time since 2018 and are ready to seize the opportunity.

โ€œIt will be awesome,โ€ said Knights senior pitcher Austyn Moran. โ€œItโ€™s been a dream.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s very energetic to be in this moment,โ€ said Knights senior outfielder Jenna Pugh.

The Knights will enter quarterfinals play with lots of momentum: 14 game win streak and a Region 2C championship win that lasted 14 innings against Appomattox County.

โ€œIt was an honor to play in a game like that because to me it will go down as one of the greatest regional championships in VHSL history,โ€ said head coach Steve Austin. โ€œWe met yesterday and are feeling great but weโ€™re looking forward.โ€

Coach Austin credits much of the teams success to the strength of schedule this season--challenging the team, especially his seniors.

โ€œI think the competitive level that it takes. The one thing weโ€™re lucky in is that weโ€™re a balanced team with good hitting, good pitching and good defense and when oneโ€™s down the other can pull us up,โ€ Austin said.

โ€œOur schedule with playing bigger schools helped us a lot,โ€ Moran said. โ€œCoach focused on the points which put us in a better place for regionals. So it was worth playing a lot of teams in a lot of bigger schools.โ€

โ€œEverybody helping everybody,โ€ said Pugh. โ€œWeโ€™re not here to play for ourselves. Everybody is playing for the person next to them, in front of them and behind them. Itโ€™s more teamwork than it is just to be here for yourself.โ€

Pugh is playing with added motivation. She tore her ACL 16 games into the 2022 season. Pugh has returned to form and is playing stronger according to coach Austin.

โ€œI think itโ€™s gone really well,โ€ Pugh said. Her older sister was part of the 2011 state championship team but Pugh says although the family is competitive, she feels no pressure entering the state tournament.

โ€œI watched her all through her state games and it feels really good and it makes me realize Iโ€™m reaching the goals I had when I was 6.โ€

James River will host John Battle at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night in the VHSL Class 2 State Quarterfinals.


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About the Authors
Eric Johnson headshot

Eric is no stranger to the Roanoke Valley. He is a Roanoke native and proud graduate of William Fleming High School.

John Appicello headshot

John serves as an anchor at WSLS 10. He has a long and distinguished career in commercial television sportcasting that spans seven stations.