By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
It was tight match-up on May 15 when the Fluco softball team hosted the Louisa Lions. Louisa jumped into the lead with two runs in the top of the second inning A Fluco error and two solid hits followed by a throwing error allowed the Lions to score twice. The Flucos got those runs back in the bottom of the third.
Fluco clean-up hitter, senior Amirah Bielke open the inning with her second single. Junior Natalie Gomez bunted Bielke to second. Junior Megan Pounsberry then smashed a double to score Bielke. With two out freshman first baseman Allison Gomez blasted a long ball to right center. It came within six inches of being a go ahead home-run, hitting the top of the fence and bouncing back, resulting in a game tying double.
The fourth, fifth and sixth innings were scoreless. Fluco starting pitcher, sophomore Lila Schwartz, shut down the Lions allowing only one single in each inning and walking no one. In the top of the seventh, the Lions opened with a triple and took the lead 3-2 on a wild pitch. Bielke who had come in to pitch in the seventh then closed down Louisa.
With one out, in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, Pounsberry singled. She stole second and the catchers’ throw got away into the outfield and Pounsberry came around to score to tie the game. Freshman Aleah Anderson worked a walk to set things up for Allison Gomez. A very hard hit line drive over the shortstop split the outfielders and went all the way to the fence for a walk-off double, and a 4-3 win, as Anderson scored easily.
After the game, Fluco coach Aime McCall reported that her team has been playing solidly and she emphasized that she was impressed with Allison Gomez’ hitting as she is only a freshman. McCall also complimented her pitchers Schwartz and Bielke, who did an excellent job in holding the Lions to only three runs. With a couple of games to play in the regular season it looks like the Flucos are likely to qualify for post-season play.
On May 20, McCall’s squad hosted Goochland and on May 22 they traveled to Monticello High for the final game of the regular season.
