Slow start dooms CCHS
By Chris Burke
The Culpeper softball season came to a tearful and disappointing end on Wednesday night, as the Devilettes dropped a 3-2 decision to Loudoun Valley in the Cedar Run District quarterfinals at Osbourn.
Valley struck for two unearned runs in the top of the first. With two down and a runner on first, CCHS pitcher Nichole Beall struck out Hailey Tretick - but the third strike hit the dirt, just eluding the glove of catcher Sam May. Forced to throw to first base to complete the out, May's toss sailed right, and dropped in and out of Sarah Campbell's glove, allowing Tretick to reach base safely.
The next batter, Caroline Williams, laced a double to the left field wall, scoring two runs. Logan Tretick made it 3-0 with a long home run in the second.
"I think the first inning hurt us more than the home run," CCHS coach Janice Gillespie said, after an emotional round of hugs with her team.
Culpeper began crawling back in the fourth. Nichole Beall led off with a single and moved around to third when Williams - the Valley pitcher - made a throwing error on a grounder hit by Michelle Beall. One batter later, May popped up a bunt to first, but Valley committed another error, allowing Nichole Beall to score.
Down 3-1, the Devilettes loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Nicholle Beall drove a one-out single to left, scoring Campbell, pulling CCHS within 3-2.
But the next play ended Culpeper's last threat. Second baseman Anna Klumpp hit a blooper to second that fell in front of Valley's Perrin Raudabaugh. Nicholle Beall then took off for second and was tagged out by Raudabaugh, who threw to first to double up Klumpp and prevent the game-tying run from scoring.
"I told Anna to hit the ball hard on the ground, or hit a long fly ball," Gillespie said. "She usually comes through ... it was just unfortunate."
CCHS failed to put a runner on base in the final two innings.
Nichole Beall took the loss, pitching a complete game and striking out six. She was bested by Williams, who also completed the game and K'd 15. Williams struck out seven straight from the first-through-third innings, then finished the game with five consecutive punch outs.
Culpeper's season concludes one game shy of a regional berth. In the evening's first quarterfinal, Battlefield pushed past Stonewall Jackson, 1-0 in nine innings. That Bobcats' victory guaranteed the winner of the Culpeper-Valley game a regional berth, a spot claimed by the Vikings.
Battlefield and Valley will play for the district tournament title on Thursday night at 6 p.m., again at Osbourn. Battlefield won the regular season crown.