Young Blues ‘Trying To Figure Things Out’
The Parry McCluer High School softball team struggled in its first week of competition, suffering a pair of lopsided losses to James River and surrendering a late four-run lead in a 22-12 home loss to Altavista last Wednesday.
In a back-and-forth battle in their home opener against Altavista, the Fighting Blues (0-3) led 12-8 after six innings, but the Colonels (1-1) capitalized on several PM errors and exploded for 14 runs in the top of the seventh.
PM’s Kendall Painter doubled to center field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Altavista ended the game by catching a fly ball in center field.
“We played well for six innings,” said PM head coach Troy Clark. “We’re young, and we made some mistakes. We didn’t field the ball, but that’s what we’ve been working on for a month now, making routine plays.”
“We made too many errors, especially at the end,” added Clark, who’s starting his 11th year as PM’s head coach.
The Blues broke an 8-8 tie in the bottom of the sixth when freshman Sophie Chittum doubled on a line drive to left field to bring home freshman Sophia Bouchelle. The Blues added two more runs when Logan Vest tripled on a grounder to drive in Chittum and senior Alysa Wheeler. PM then scored its final run when freshman Patience Hill grounded out, bringing home senior Natalie Mohler.
The Colonels racked up 20 hits against the Blues, who had 12 hits. Leading PM with three hits each were Vest and freshman Jordyn Hostetter.
Senior Olivia Julian pitched a complete game for PM, striking out two while allowing one walk.
Of his team’s youth, Clark noted that the Blues have five freshmen and were starting four of them: Chittum, Hill, Hostetter and Harleigh Fulwider. The fifth freshman, who also got some playing time as a courtesy runner, is Sophia Bouchelle.
“We’re getting these young ones experience on the fly,” said Clark.
The Blues do have six returning players from last year’s team, which went 9-9 overall and 6-1 in the Pioneer District before falling to Eastern Montgomery 9-7 in the district finals and ending its season with a 10-1 loss to Giles in the Region 1C quarterfinals. From last year’s team, the Blues graduated three seniors, led by all-state shortstop and last year’s Pioneer District player of the year Payton Emore, who signed to play with Bryant & Stratton College in Virginia Beach. Also graduating were all-district players Autumn Mundy and Gracey Shafer.
Returning players for the Blues are seniors Julian, Mohler, Wheeler and Vest, who made several impressive catches in center field last Wednesday, along with junior Remi Hickman and Painter, a sophomore.
Joining as a new player for the varsity team is junior Kinleigh Wallace.
Clark is joined on his staff by five assistant coaches. Jimmy Emore and Keith Ruley return, while Jimmy McKemy and Hunter Turpin are new additions. Isaiah Woods is the Blues’ manager.
JR Beats PM Twice
The Blues lost to James River twice, falling 15-2 on Monday of last week in the season opener in Buchanan before suffering a 15-5 home loss on Friday.
In the first game, the Knights (2-0) scored seven runs in the bottom of the first off of seven hits, four walks and an error. JR scored six more runs in the second, with five hits and two walks, and added two runs in the fifth.
Kaylee Harlow led the Knights with three hits and five RBIs, while Sydney Breeding and Keira Crawford each had three hits and two RBIs. MaKena Saville earned the win on the mound, pitching a complete game.
For PM, Hill and Julian each recorded a hit and an RBI, and Painter and Hostetter each had a hit. Wheeler pitched for the Blues.
In the rematch, JR scored three runs in the top of the first, one on a double by Breeding, one on a double by Ella Hutchens, and one on a single by Crawford.
JR stretched its lead to 10-0 in the second inning by scoring seven runs in the second inning on five hits, a walk and two errors.
Down 12-0 in the fifth, the Blues scored five runs on three hits and two walks. Hostetter led off with a single, and Chittum and Wallace walked. Wheeler singled to bring home Hostetter, and Vest tripled with the bases loaded to drive in three runs.
The Blues started four of their five freshmen again. “We are young and still trying to figure things out,” said Clark. “We have a lot to work on. We must eliminate errors, but this is a good group of young ladies. We played hard, we never quit, and we are getting better.”
With spring break this week, the Blues have no games scheduled. They were originally scheduled to play at local rival Rockbridge County this Friday, but that game was postponed and has been rescheduled for Monday, April 14.
PM will return to action on Tuesday, April 1 at home against Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy before starting Pioneer District action on Thursday, April 3, at Narrows. The Blues will continue district action on Tuesday, April 8, at Eastern Montgomery before playing host to district rival Craig County on Thursday, April 10. All games are scheduled for 5 p.m.
FIGHTING BLUE Harleigh Fulwider takes a swing. Fulwider is one of PM’s five freshmen. (Ronnie Coffey photo)
