The Rockbridge County High School softball team went 2-2 against Valley District competition at home in the final week of the regular season, coasting to wins in a home doubleheader with Rocktown on Monday of last week before suffering losses to Broadway on Friday and to Turner Ashby on Saturday.
At press time, the Wildcats (7-10 overall, 5-8 district) were waiting to see their draw for the Region 3C tournament. For the schedule and updates, visit www.thenews-gazette.com.
Against Rocktown (0-16, 0-13), the Wildcats had no trouble, winning the first game 16-0 and taking the second game 16-1.
The games were both played last week because the first game, originally scheduled for April 25 in Lexington, was postponed due to a thunderstorm.
In the first game, the Wildcats erupted for nine runs in the first inning and added their other seven runs in the second. The game ended in the third inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.
The Wildcats had nine hits. Gabby Brown and Cameron Terry led the Wildcats with two hits and three RBIs each. Recording one hit each were Page Wright, Sadie Moore, Parker Dameron, Willow Rogers and Kayleigh Rosson.
On the mound, the Wildcats allowed no hits and no walks in the shutout. Sadie Moore pitched the first inning, striking out six, and Harley Tomlin pitched the third inning, striking out three.
Rocktown committed five errors, while RC had one.
In the second game, Rocktown took a 1-0 lead in the first when Isamar Cruz Chavez hit a home run to left field.
The Wildcats responded with eight runs in the bottom of the first and scored their other eight runs in the second. The game again ended in the third.
Brown led RC with three hits, while Bella Dorey, Gracie Pelter and Landrey Campbell each had two hits. Campbell had a team-high four RBIs.
RC racked up 12 hits while holding Rocktown to three.
Tomlin pitched all three innings for the Wildcats, striking out five while allowing no walks and one earned run.
Before the game, the Wildcats honored their two seniors, Dameron and Terry. Dameron is a catcher while Terry is a right fielder.
“Monday’s games were a great way to celebrate our seniors,” said RC head coach Keston Pelter. “Parker and Cameron have made such a huge impact on our softball program over the last three years.”
Pelter said Terry “has improved tremendously in the game of softball both defensively and offensively. Her positivity and energy will be missed; she is so respectful and she’s very coachable. She’s been a sponge, soaking in everything from our coaching staff over the years and always working hard to improve.”
Last month, Terry signed her letter of intent to be a Division III cheerleader for Roanoke College.
Praising Dameron, Pelter said, “Parker’s presence and influence behind the plate will be greatly missed. Whoever steps into the catcher role will have big shoes to fill. She has complemented [pitcher] Sadie [Moore] so well over the last three years. Her energy and leadership will be missed.”
“I’ve coached Parker all throughout her high school career in both basketball and softball,” added Pelter. “She’s a special athlete, and the bond and relationship that I’ve built with her as a coach and player is special, and her presence and influence will be missed.”
Broadway 10, RC 0
On Friday, the Wildcats suffered a 10-0 home loss in five innings to Broadway (17-3, 131).
The Gobblers, whose only district loss this season was to Turner Ashby, had beaten the Wildcats 6-0 on April 29 at Broadway.
In the rematch, the Gobblers scattered their runs, scoring two runs in the first and adding two in the second, two in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Cathryn Caffrey led Broadway with three hits and had two RBIs, while Brooklyn Spitzer had two hits and two RBIs.
The Wildcats had three hits. Recording one hit each were Dorey, Rosson and Lily Thomas.
On the mound, Moore pitched a complete game for RC, striking out three while allowing 11 hits, three walks and 10 runs, eight of them earned.
The Wildcats committed three errors while the Gobblers had none.
TA 12, RC 0
Turner Ashby (17-4, 12-1), whose only district loss this season was to Broadway, dealt the Wildcats a 12-0 loss in four innings on Saturday in Lexington.
Previously, the Knights had beaten the Wildcats 11-0 on April 22 at TA.
In the rematch, moved from last Wednesday to Saturday morning due to rain, TA took a 1-0 lead in the first, added seven runs in the second, and scored four runs in the fourth.
The Knights racked up eight hits while holding the Wildcats hitless.
Leading TA with two hits and two RBIs each were Reaghan Warner and Madison Aderholz.
Kennedy Shifflet pitched all four innings for TA, striking out 10 and allowing no walks. Moore pitched for RC, striking out two while surrendering eight hits and no walks.
RC committed four errors while TA had none.
Commenting on Broadway and TA, Pelter said, “Those teams are solid. They put the ball in play, and we just needed to be more confident at the plate and match their energy to stay in the games. However, those games are done.”
Looking ahead, Pelter said, “We’ve told the girls it’s a new season. Everyone is 0-0 now; our team can be dangerously good when we are focused and locked in, and when we get behind one another, we believe.”
WILDCAT PARKER Dameron, one of two RC seniors honored before the game, arrives at third base to beat the throw to Rocktown’s Yelixa Najarro Montoya. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
RC JUNIOR Willow Rogers approaches home plate as Rocktown catcher Kayleigh Brock tries to stop her. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
