WILLIAMSTON — A dominating performance by Riverside’s Ryan Wagner helped the Knights top Four Rivers Conference rival Northside 5-1 on Tuesday and improve their record to 8-1 (5-0) on the year.
Wagner was on fire as he averaged over two strike outs per inning as he fanned 13 in six innings of work while allowing three hits in the win.
“I thought his fastball was pretty good and he did a good job of hitting his spots,” Riverside coach Hank Tice said. “Any time you strike out 13 you’re doing something right. There were some 3-0 counts but he got himself back into those counts and pitched ahead a lot. He was around the zone all night long. It was a solid effort.”
After a scoreless first, the Knights pounced on the Panthers with a four-run second. Zach Howell led off with a walk and was joined on base by Ryan White. Brandon Chesson followed with an RBI single to take a 1-o lead.
Ross Byrd plated Chesson on a fielder’s choice grounder to go up 2-0 before Mathen Ange doubled in a run and Kyle Leggett drove in another.
“That was a big inning for us,” Tice said. “But, after that we lost focus.”
Northside removed pitcher Ryan Arthur in the third and replaced him with Caleb Sherman, who managed to limit Riverside to one run over the final four frames.
“(Northside) coach (Keith) Boyd brought in Sherman and he threw a lot knuckle balls and curveballs and we just got frustrated,” Tice said.
Ange led Riverside at the plate going 3-4 with two RBIs, while Ross Byrd and Lawrence Smith each had two hits and an RBI.
The Panthers, who rallied for a run in the sixth, were led by Corbon Minor, Neil Gibbs and Cole Cutler, who each had one hit.

Northside     000    010    0    —         1    3    Riverside     040    100    X    —         5    11
WP: Ryan Wagner; LP: Ryan Arthur
Hitting: N — Corbon Minor 1-2, Neil Gibbs 1-4, Cole Cutler 1-3; R — Ross  Byrd 2-4 (RBI), Mathen Ange 3-4 (2B, 2 RBI), Lawrence Smith 2-2 (RBI), Ryan White 2-3, Kyle Leggett 1-3 (RBI), Brandon Chesson 1-3.