James River defeats Douglas Freeman in 11-inning thriller

Rapids top Mavericks in 4-hour, 11-inning thriller, highlighted by defense and grit

While the 11th gave fans the elation or heartbreak of a walk-off, the seventh inning was baseball cinema at its finest.

James River defeats Douglas Freeman in 11-inning thriller

He didn’t expect to play, and why should he?Drew Acuto, after all, was just a sophomore who’d earned a late-season promotion to the James River Rapids’ varsity baseball roster after spending most of the spring laboring in relative anonymity on the JV.His role, he knew, was to watch, listen, learn, and support his guys. His time to shine would one day come. That he also knew.Little could he imagine that it would come so soon.Friday night, amidst …