Blues Snare Convincing Win Over Craig, 13-2
The Parry McCluer High School softball team got a much-needed victory last week.
After a 10-1 setback to Patrick Henry on Monday of last week extended the PM losing streak to six straight games, the Blues rebounded with a 13-2 victory in five innings over Craig County on Thursday. In snapping the skid, the Blues improved to 4-9 overall, 2-5 against Pioneer District foes.
“I don’t even know if I can express how big [that win] was,” said PM head coach Troy Clark. “We needed it a lot. The way we played – we only walked three batters; we only had only one error; and we hit the ball – that’s the first time we’ve done all three all year. It was just awesome watching them do that.”
In the victory over league rival Craig County on Thursday in Buena Vista, every player in the starting lineup collected at least one hit, and PM blew open a 2-2 game with a seven-run third inning to complete the season sweep of the Rockets (1-9 overall, 1-7 district).
Patience Hill led off that decisive third inning with a single, and after Sophie Chittum singled and courtesy runner Kinleigh Wallace stole second base, Zoey Tolley laced a double to drive in two runs and put the Blues back in front, 4-2. Sophia Bouchelle followed with a single, and another run scored on Lexi Armstrong’s RBI groundout.
The Blues were not done, however. Kendall Painter doubled to drive in two more runs, and Hill, batting for the second time in the inning, cracked another double to drive in Painter and push PM’s lead to 9-2.
“I think we were more on track in catching up with the ball,” said Clark. “It just seemed to kind of snowball. We had six good at bats in a row; being a little more ag- gressive helped them.”
That was all the cushion the Blues would need. Starting pitcher Caroline Watts allowed just one hit the rest of the way, a bunt single in the fourth, and retired eight of the last nine batters she faced. She picked up the win on the mound, going five innings while surrendering just one earned run on three hits while walking three and fanning three others.
“Even with the struggles, [Caroline] has done a good job,” said the PM coach of his starting pitcher, who has been the unfortunate recipient of some poor defensive outings for the Blues this season. “She has kept a good attitude, and she has kept fighting. I think she is going to find her way out of this, and hopefully we continue with the defensive part of it. That will help everyone, including her.”
The Blues added some insurance in the fourth with four more tallies. Bouchelle drove in another run with a single, as did Armstrong, and Sarah Dudley plated a pair with her double.
Offensively, PM pounded out 15 hits, including seven in the big third inning, which was more than the Blues had in the previous four games combined. The Blues were led by Hill, who went 3-for-3 at the plate, with a double and two runs scored. Tolley had two hits and drove in three runs. Harleigh Fulwider was 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI, while Bouchelle posted a 2-for-3 effort with two runs scored.
The Rockets scored both of their runs in the third inning. Kallie Fisher reached on an error to lead off the inning, later scoring on Rae Stamper’s groundout. Jenna Boitnotte drove in the other run for Craig County.
PH 10, PM 1
On Monday of last week, Patrick Henry scored in every inning except the third and handed the Blues their sixth straight loss.
The Patriots (2-13) led 3-0 after the visitors’ half of the first inning, but the Blues responded with a single tally in their half of the frame. Watts reached on a bunt single to start and scored when Chittum singled with two outs. Tolley followed with a single, and Fulwider walked to load the bases. However, PH’s Tatum Ziccardy struck out the last batter of the inning to end that threat.
And that really was the only time the Blues threatened. PM managed just one base runner the rest of the way as Ziccardy sat down 14 in a row at one point. She allowed just four hits in the game – three of them in the first inning – and struck out 13 en route to the victory on the mound.
Arianna Williams did the bulk of the work for the Patriots at the plate, going a perfect 5-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs as Patrick Henry improved to 2-13. Watts, Hill, Chittum and Tolley accounted for three PM hits.
The Blues were scheduled to play host to Nelson County on Monday before traveling to Narrows yesterday. They’ll continue district action at home against Bath County on Thursday before playing at Patrick Henry on Monday and concluding the regular season at Highland County, with all games starting at 5 p.m.
Looking ahead, Clark said, “If we can play like we did [against Craig County], I think we’ll win those district games. We just have to become more consistent and play like we did the other day. The hope is – the way they played that last game – that we can turn this season around and finish that way.”
