Culpeper outlasts Highland in 10
By Chris Burke
Seven innings and nearly two hours after it occurred, Donald O’Meara was still regretting a decision he made from Highland’s third-base coaching box.
The Hawks’ softball team dropped a 1-0, 10-inning affair at Culpeper on Friday afternoon.
But Highland had a glorious shot to break through in the third. With runners on first and second and one out, junior Morgan Stephens laced a base hit to center field.
O’Meara held Ella Miller at third on the play – and one batter later, Culpeper turned a double play on a Denae Davis’ squeeze bunt attempt, stuffing Highland’s biggest threat.
“This one’s on me for sure,” O’Meara lamented. “I should have sent Ella home on that base hit. I second guessed myself, and that was a coaching mistake.”
After nine innings of scoreless ball, the Blue Devils finally punched a run home on a Kelly Dubell RBI single.
Highland pitcher Maire Shaughnessy took the loss, despite allowing just eight hits in a gutsy complete game performance.
“I don’t think we could have asked for anything better,” said Shaughnessy, who struck out five. “We played our hardest.”
Outside of Highland’s third-inning rally, both teams had numerous opportunities to score.
Shaughnessy stranded 11 Devils. Highland, meanwhile, left eight runners on base.
The two teams switched to international tie-breaking rules after nine – where teams start each half inning with a runner on second base.
Highland nearly cashed in on that setup in the top of the 10th.
Sidney Dodson took second, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Senior Erin Whitney then hit a dangerous grounder between the mound and third base, but CCHS pitcher Nichole Beall fielded it and tagged Dodson as she tried to race home.
“All my praise has to go to my defense,” Culpeper coach Janice Gillespie said. “They stayed focus today, and did everything they could have done.”
Culpeper finally ended things in the bottom of the 10th. Sarah Campbell singled with one out, advancing runner Sam Robson to third, and Dubell won the game shortly thereafter.
“It was a relief, it was,” said Robson of her game-winning score.
Robson was one of several players in the game familiar with each other. Highland’s roster features nine Culpeper residents, while several Devils played JV ball under O’Meara before he took over the Hawks.
“I like playing him,” Robson said. “I’ve known him on a friend level, but just playing him is even better because you want to win even more.”
The camaraderie showed after the game, as O’Meara hugged Robson while telling her, “If someone had to beat us, I’m glad it was you.”
Yet, the missed chance to pull out a road victory haunted O’Meara.
He remained encouraged, though, by his team’s play.
“I told the girls that it’s on me,” O’Meara said. “’You gave me 110 percent. You give me that effort the rest of the year and we’ll be back in the state championship game.’”