The young Byrd baseball team is starting to ripen. The Terriers have won their last two games and are now 5-7 after starting the season with four losses.

“We’re playing a lot better,” said Byrd coach Neil Zimmerman. “The younger kids are starting to hit the ball and Saturday’s game was the best we’ve played all season.”

Byrd took an 8-5 win at Hidden Valley on Saturday afternoon and never trailed in the game. The Terriers opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third, then put it away  with five in the fifth. Byrd led just 3-1 when Luke Taylor saved two runs with a diving catch on a two-out liner with two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth. Luke was playing second base.

Freshman Tyler Dean picked up the win on the mound, allowing just one hit over four innings. Ethan Spraker pitched the fifth and sixth and Seth Hodges, another freshman, pitched a scoreless seventh.

Bryce Mullen and Spraker had two hits each for Byrd, and both had a double and a run batted in. Dylan Hatfield had a home run and both he and Dean knocked in two runs each.

“It was a good day for us against a good team,” said Zimmerman.

On Tuesday at home the Terriers beat William Fleming, 15-1, as the Colonels walked 11 batters. Jacob Johnson had two hits Byrd and Dean knocked in two runs. Josh Hilliard, Matt Huber and Taylor split time on the mound.

Byrd also played at Salem last week and dropped an 8-4 decision. The Terriers led 1-0 after four and a half innings but Salem exploded for eight in the bottom of the fifth. Salem is 10-0.

“I thought we had some great at bats,” said Zimmerman. “We worked deep in the count.”

Johnson had two hits and Hatfield drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a line double to the gap in left.

Byrd is back in action this Friday with a game at Staunton River. It will be a jayvee-varsity doubleheader with the varsity playing under the lights. Next Tuesday Lord Botetourt comes here for a 5 pm game.