Wildcats Outslug Dragons In Softball Opener
Starting the season on a hitting surge, the Rockbridge County High School softball team earned a 6-5 road win over Valley District rival William Monroe on Friday evening in Stanardsville.
The Wildcats would improve to 2-0 with a 11-1 home win in five innings over Parry McCluer on Saturday afternoon. (See separate story.)
On Friday, the Wildcats racked up 16 hits, led by Bella Dorey and Willow Rogers with three each. Four different Wildcats – Page Wright, Gabby Brown, Landrey Campbell and Cameron Terry – each recorded two hits.
Leading the Green Dragons (3-4 overall, 0-1 district) with two hits each were Reagan Shifflett and Malia Baugher.
The Wildcats got going in the second inning. After Brooke Hostetter reached first base following a dropped third strike and then stole second base, Rogers singled to center field to bring her home. Campbell then singled to center field, and Terry singled on a line drive to right field to drive in Rogers, extending RC’s lead to 2-0.
RC made it 3-0 in the top of the third when courtesy runner Lily Thomas scored on a WM error. The Wildcats would stretch their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth when Rogers scored on an error, and Dorey scored on an error in the sixth to make it 5-0.
The Dragons answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Emma Taylor scored on a passed ball, and Delana Taylor ran home on a sacrifice fly to right field by Ally Mannion.
RC scored its final run in the top of the seventh when Wright singled on a bunt to WM pitcher Emma Wills, bringing home Campbell to make it 6-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Dragons attempted a comeback. Bailey Brown doubled on a line drive to left field, advanced to third, and stole home. Callie Shifflett then scored when Reagan Shifflett singled on a grounder to shortstop. Shifflett scored WM’s final run on a groundout before RC junior pitcher Sadie Moore ended the game by throwing a strikeout.
Moore pitched a complete game for the Wildcats, striking out nine while allowing eight hits, three walks and five runs (three earned).
Pitching a complete game for the Dragons was Wills, striking out four while surrendering 16 hits, no walks and six runs (four earned).
WM committed five errors, while RC had two.
The Wildcats are starting the spring well in their sixth year under head coach Keston Pelter. They had a rebuilding season last year, going 5-15 overall and 1-11 in the Valley District.
From last year’s team, the Wildcats graduated just one senior, Marla Zollman, a third baseman, pitcher and outfielder.
This year, the Wildcats have an experienced squad, with 10 returning players and four firstyear varsity players.
RC’s three co-captains are Moore, an all-second secondteam selection last year, and a pair of seniors, catcher Parker Dameron and right fielder Cameron Terry.
The Wildcats have two seniors, eight juniors and four sophomores.
Joining Moore in the junior class are seven returning players: Wright in left field, outfielder Brooklyn Beverly, Dorey at shortstop, Gabby Brown at center field, Campbell at third base, Rogers at first base, and Thomas, a third baseman and outfielder.
The Wildcats’ sophomores, all new to the varsity level, are second baseman Brooke Hostetter, catcher and third baseman Kayleigh Rosson, pitcher and outfielder Harley Tomlin, and first baseman Gracie Pelter.
Serving as assistant coaches are Wayne Beverley, father of Pelter, along with Cari Mayton and Keith Moore.
The Wildcats were scheduled to play host to district rival Spotswood yesterday and will play at Fort Defiance on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before starting next week with two district games. They’ll play at East Rockingham on Monday at 6 p.m. before playing host to Harrisonburg on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
