By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
Softball is much less predictable than some other sports. In some sports, if a team wins impressively the first time two teams play, it is very unlikely that the losing team will bounce back and win big the next time the teams play. A week ago, the Monticello Mustangs beat the Flucos on a no-hitter. On Thursday, May 27, the teams met again, and it was a completely different story. In the bottom of the first, Fluco sophomore centerfielder Karley Hance tripled to right field off the pitcher who had no-hit the Flucos. She scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Fluco lead.
In the second inning, Fluco sophomore shortstop Brooke Napier doubled to start the inning and came in to score when the Monticello catcher made a throwing error. In the third inning, the Flucos jumped to a big 5-0 lead, as Hance blasted another triple, senior pitcher Calista Marsh walked and Napier connected again and this time she cleared the left field fence for a three run home run. Eight of the nine outs recorded in the first three innings by the Monticello pitcher were strikeouts, but the Flucos had her number in this game. Meanwhile, March was shutting down the Mustang batters, allowing only one single in the first three innings. A nice defensive play by first baseman Makayia Gentry ended the top of the third.
The Mustangs changed pitchers in the fourth and the Flucos greeted the new pitcher with some fireworks. Lead-off batter Lindsay Ward was hit by a pitch, second baseman Shantrice Rush singled. A fielder’s choice followed. March then launched the Flucos third triple of the game to score two. A single by catcher Braelyn Via plated March and the Flucos led 8-0. Leading off the bottom of the fifth, pinch hitter Heidi Breedan hit an enormous drive to left that cleared the fence with plenty of room to spare. When you send up a pinch hitter, you are normally looking for a single, not an out of the park blast. Back-to-back doubles by Ward and Rush upped the score to 10-0 and ended the game after 5 innings, on the run rule.
March pitched a five inning, one hit shutout for the Flucos. She struck out three and walked one. March mostly induced the Mustangs to hit ground balls, and Rush threw out five batters and turned in one outstanding play at second base. Coach Tre Smith said that this win ups the Flucos’ record to 5-3. He was very pleased at how his team came back from the earlier loss to Monticello and really “attacked the ball” in this win.
On June 1, The Flucos hosted the Charlottesville Black Knights. On June3 they will host the Western Albemarle Warriors. The regular season ends with two away games, at Orange County on June 8 and at Louisa County on June 10.
