Wildcat Softball Falls To Stuarts Draft, Buffalo Gap
The Rockbridge County High School softball team suffered a pair of close Shenandoah District losses last week, falling 5-2 at home against Stuarts Draft last Tuesday before coming up short 2-1 on Thursday at Buffalo Gap. With the setbacks, the Wildcats fell to 9-6 overall and 6-6 in the district.
Despite an impressive game from RC pitcher Sadie Moore, the Wildcats struggled to get their offense going against Draft (13-4 overall, 8-4 district). With the victory, the Cougars avenged a 2-0 loss to RC on April 2.
In the rematch, Moore pitched a complete game, striking out 12 while allowing eight hits, two walks and five earned runs. The Cougars got just as impressive of a performance from Kaylee Layne. Pitching a complete game, Layne struck out 15 while surrendering seven hits, two walks and two earned runs.
Draft took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Maddy Miller singled on a hard grounder to center field, bringing home Lynzie Carson, and Layne scored on the throw.
In the bottom of the first, the Wildcats cut the lead to 2-1 when Moore singled on to left field to drive in Brooke Hostetter.
The Cougars extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the third when Addyson Dameron singled on a grounder to center field, bringing home Layne and Miller. Draft then made it 5-1 when Dameron scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Adyson Coyner. RC scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh when Eliana Lawrie doubled on a line drive to center field to bring home Brooklyn Beverly, but Layne ended the game with two strikeouts.
Reviewing the game and what her team could learn, RC head coach Keston Pelter said, “We are working with the girls to hit the ball where it is pitched and put it in play. We fought until the end, but came up short.”
Hostetter and Page Wright led the Wildcats with two hits each. Miller paced Draft with three hits and two RBIs, while Layne had two hits. RC committed two errors; Draft had none.
BG 2, RC 1
Buffalo Gap defeated the Wildcats 2-1 in eight innings on Thursday in Swoope.
With the victory, the Bison (14-2, 10-2) completed a sweep of the season series. When the teams met on April 6 in Lexington, Gap won 9-1 in nine innings.
In the rematch, the Bison scored the winning run when Mckenzie Woods had a sacrifice bunt to bring home Emarie Smiley in the eighth.
“Our girls played a solid game,” said Pelter. “It came down to the wire and extra innings again. The squeeze play at the end of the game was not executed on our end.
Earlier in the game, the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Moore singled on a line drive to center field to bring home Hostetter.
Gap tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Charleigh Phillips hit a solo home run to left field.
Bailey Tribble led Gap with four hits while Elissa Caricofe had three. Moore and Bella Dorey paced RC with two hits each.
On the mound, Moore pitched a complete game for the Wildcats, striking out nine while allowing 11 hits, no walks and two earned runs. For Gap, Tribble pitched a complete game, striking out 11 while surrendering six hits, six walks and one earned run.
RC committed two errors while Gap had one.
The Wildcats played at home against Wilson Memorial yesterday. They’ll continue district action at Riverheads on Thursday before playing host to Fort Defiance on Tuesday, with both games starting at 5:30 p.m. Before Tuesday’s game, the Wildcats will honor their seven seniors. RC will conclude the regular season next Wednesday, May 20, when they play at Alleghany at 6 p.m.
WILDCAT SENIOR Page Wright slides into the base. Wright had two hits and scored a run. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
RC SENIOR third baseman Landrey Campbell runs with the ball in her glove while senior shortstop Bella Dorey watches. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
