Wildcats Drop Non-League Games

Fielding, Hitting Woes Plaguing RC Softball

The Rockbridge County High School softball team suffered a pair of nondistrict home losses last week, falling to Fort Defiance 9-1 last Monday before coming up short 6-2 against Alleghany on Thursday.

Against Fort Defiance, the Wildcats (1-4) were attempting to avenge their season-opening 6-5 March 13 road loss in eight innings to the Indians. However, Fort (2-3) would have none of that, jumping to a 5-0 lead by the third inning and staying comfortably ahead the rest of the way.

In the first inning, Fort took a 2-0 run in the first inning, scoring two runs on an RC error. For the game, the Wildcats committed six errors, while the Indians had none.

RC head coach Keston Pelter said lack of communication among her players was the key cause of the errors. “They’ve got to talk,” said Pelter. “These girls, they know how to talk and communicate. They’ve just got to be thinking about the play ahead, always thinking ahead to the next play and what’s gonna happen.”

The Indians added three more runs on two RC errors in the third to extend their lead to 5-0. Fort made it 6-0 in the fifth when Riley Davis grounded out to second base, driving in Kadence Tomlin.

The Wildcats got in scoring position in the sixth, with Marla Zollman hitting a single and advancing to third, but Fort made a double play and ended the inning with a strikeout. The Indians then added their final three runs in the seventh on singles by Alexis Miller and Lauren Knott and then on an RC error.

RC scored its lone run in the bottom of the seventh when Brooklyn Beverly singled on a grounder to third base to bring home Parker Dameron, but Fort then made the final two outs in the field. Fort racked up nine hits while holding RC to four. Olivia Newman led the Indians with three hits, while Miller and Sara Turner each had two.

Recording one hit each for the Wildcats were Beverly, Dameron, Zollman and Page Wright.

Pelter said her players “hit the ball hard, but we’ve got to find the holes. [Fort] found the holes, and we hit it right to the players.”

On the mound for RC, Sadie Moore pitched a complete game, striking out six and allowing nine hits, two walks and nine runs (three earned). “She continues to pitch well, but at the moment, she’s the only one that’s pitching for us,” said Pelter.

For Fort, Jadin Brown pitched a complete game, striking out six and surrendering four hits, five walks and one earned run.

In order to improve, Pelter said her players have to “get in the rhythm and complement one another. They’ve got to trust each other a little bit more and trust Unable to come back from an early 4-0 deficit, the Wildcats suffered a 6-2 home loss to Alleghany on Thursday evening in Lexington.

the process.”

AHS 6, RC 2

With the win, Alleghany (3-2) swept the season series. When the teams met on March 18 at Alleghany, the Cougars led 6-0 and held on for a 6-3 win.

In the rematch, played in cool and windy conditions, the Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Laken Cantrell scored on an RC error. For the game, the Wildcats committed six errors, while Alleghany had two.

Alleghany added three more runs in the second. Kinsey Middleton singled on an infield grounder to bring home Addison Morris, and Christina Terrell stole home. Cantrell then singled on a line drive to center field to bring home Middleton, extending the Cougars’ lead to 4-0.

The Wildcats’ offense came to life in the bottom in the third. After Bella Dorey walked and Zollman singled on a grounder, Cameron Terry drove in both runners when she doubled to left field, cutting Alleghany’s lead to 4-2.

Alleghany responded by scoring its final two runs in the top of the fourth. Kaylee Nicely singled on an infield fly ball to drive in Cantrell, and Brooklynn Hicks ran home on a wild pitch.

There was a ray of light for the Wildcats in the bottom of the seventh when Gabriella Brown and Dorey walked, but the game ended with a catch in right field by Alleghany.

Cantrell led Alleghany with three hits. Terry and Zollman each had one hit for the Wildcats, who were held to two hits.

On the mound for the Cougars, Tyra Rose pitched a complete game, striking out three and allowing the two hits, four walks and two unearned runs.

Moore pitched a complete game for RC, striking out eight and surrendering the eight hits, no walks and six runs (two earned).

Despite the loss, Pelter said she noticed improvement from her team. “I do think that they talked and communicated a lot better today,” she said. “We talked about how we work on the routine stuff in practice every day.” Pelter hopes her players will relax more in a game situation.

“We hit the ball, but we’re gonna find the holes,” she added. “We’re gonna find the gaps. We keep going, the ball’s gonna fall. … We’re gonna keep improving every day, every game.”

The Wildcats were scheduled to play at Parry McCluer on Monday before starting Valley District action at Harrisonburg yesterday, Tuesday. RC will continue district action with a home game against Spotswood next Tuesday at 5 p.m.