RC Softball Team Puts Up 18 Hits, Pounds Blues 11-1
In the first rivalry game of the season, strong hitting, pitching and defense led the Rockbridge County High School softball team to an 11-1 home win over Parry McCluer in five innings on Saturday afternoon in Lexington.
The Wildcats (2-0) have now won the last three meetings with the Fighting Blues (2-4), after RC swept the season series last year.
In Saturday’s home opener, the Wildcats racked up 18 hits while holding the Blues to two hits. Bella Dorey and Page Wright led RC with four hits each, while Sadie Moore had three hits and three RBIs. Recording two hits each were Gabby Brown, Parker Dameron and Landry Campbell, while Willow Rogers had one hit.
RC was coming off a 6-5 road win against Valley District rival William Monroe the previous night, during which the Wildcats exploded for 16 hits. (See separate story.)
“It was really good that we got that win last night,” said RC head coach Keston Pelter. “They carried that momentum into today.”
Pelter said her players were on the field before she arrived Saturday morning. “They were ready to get on the field and get going,” she said.
After quickly making three outs on the hot afternoon, the Wildcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first. RC’s Bella Dorey singled on a grounder to shortstop, and Wright brought her in with a single on a line drive to center field. Moore singled to left field to drive in Wright, and Brown later scored on a groundout by Rogers to make it 3-0. The Wildcats added two more runs when Campbell singled to left field to bring home Harley Tomlin and Brooke Hostetter.
RC scored two more runs in the second, with Dorey running home on a wild pitch and Wright scoring when Moore singled on a line drive to left field, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 7-0.
The lone run for the Blues came in the top of the fourth. Kendall Painter hit a fly ball to center field and reached first base on an error. The Wildcats made two outs before Painter scored when Alysa Wheeler singled on a grounder to second base, cutting RC’s lead to 7-1.
The Wildcats answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Wright brought in the first when she doubled on a line drive to center field to drive in Dorey. Brown then singled on a grounder to left field to bring home Wright, and Brown scored when Dameron singled to center field, extending RC’s lead to 10-1.
ABOVE, RC junior Sadie Moore swings for one of her three hits. Moore also walked to bring in the final run, and she pitched all five innings, striking out five and allowing two hits and no walks. AT LEFT, Wildcat junior first baseman Willow Rogers catches the ball to get PM senior Logan Vest out. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)
After preventing the Blues from getting on base in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats loaded the bases with three singles in the bottom of the fifth and then sealed the win when Moore walked to bring home Dorey, ending the game early due to the 10-run mercy rule.
For the Blues, Wheeler and Logan Vest each had one hit. RC and PM each committed two errors. On the mound, Moore pitched a complete game for the Wildcats, striking out five while allowing two hits, no walks and one unearned run. Pitching for the Blues was Olivia Julian, striking out three while surrendering 18 hits, one walk and 11 earned runs.
Reviewing his team’s performance, PM head coach Troy Clark said, “We put the ball in play. We just didn’t put hits together. We’ve still got to fix some defensive situations. Too many errors.”
Pleased by how her players have started the season, Pelter said, “We had a month-and-a-half of practice before we got to play, so they were ready. They were chomping at the bit to play. We have a couple new girls up this year, people in some different positions, and I think that we’ve found our niche. We’ve found our lineup.”
The RC coach added that her players have “come out swinging from the beginning, which is something that we kind of struggled with last year. They’ve come out hitting from the beginning.”
Looking ahead, Pelter said, “We are confident. Our schedule’s a little tricky from here on out, two and three games a week, but we’re ready. I feel like everything’s wide open when we get into district play and here on out. As long as they keep playing like they have been and believe in each other, I think we’re gonna be OK this year. I’m looking forward to what this team can do.”
The Wildcats and Blues are scheduled to have another showdown at PM on Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m.
PM FRESHMAN catcher Sophie Chittum gets ready to throw the ball while RC junior Gabby Brown walks toward home plate to bat. Brown recorded two hits. (Stephanie Mikles Blevins photo)
FIGHTING BLUE freshman first baseman Patience Hill puts her footon the bag to get RC senior Cameron Terry out while PM senior second baseman Natalie Mohler (far right) stands by. (Stephanie Mikles Blevins photo)
