By Duncan Nixon
Two strong softball teams looking to make the postseason met at Fluvanna on May 14. The Western Albemarle Warriors came in at 8-3 in Jefferson District play and 14-5 overall. The Flucos came in at 9-3 in Jefferson District play and 13-5 overall.
Nothing went right for the Flucos.
In the top of the second, the Warriors’ first two batters walked. A single made it 1-0 with runners at first and second. A force out at second put runners on first and third with two out. The Warriors then went for a double steal. Rather than conceding the steal of second, the Flucos threw down to second and then home to the plate. Neither throw was on time, and the score was 2-0.
The Warriors added a run in the top of the fourth. Again, the run was scored by a leadoff batter who walked.
In the top of the fifth, the Warriors added two more runs. This time, with two out and two runners on base, a high routine fly ball to the outfield was dropped, resulting in two more runs scoring. Normally, the Flucos are the team that is stronger on defense. Not on this night.
The Flucos were hitless in the first three innings but started to get their bats going in the fourth. Senior catcher Megan Pounsberry and senior third baseman Bre Miller both singled in the inning but were left on base. In the fifth, freshman Lillian Mauck singled sharply.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Flucos got on the board. Sophomore outfielder Aleah Anderson singled to lead off the inning. She moved to second on an infield out and scored on a single by sophomore first baseman Allison Gomez.
In the top of the seventh, the Flucos flubbed a double play early and the floodgates opened. The Warriors put up eight runs to assure their victory.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Flucos put up four runs for the final score of 13-5, but it was way too late. Ryleigh Birkhead singled, as did Peyton Baber. Junior pitcher Lila Schwartz singled. Anderson tripled, Pounsberry hit a sacrifice fly and Gomez hit a long single to the fence for the fourth run. The Warriors’ first baseman made a diving catch on a line drive by Miller to end the game.
After the game, Coach Aime McCall noted that sometimes nothing seems to go right, and this was one of those times. McCall said the Flucos will probably qualify for the postseason, but nothing is certain yet, as the point system to determine who is in and who is out is very complicated.
