Loudoun Valley ousts FP softball
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By HUGH RIST
For the News & Messenger
Published: May 26, 2008
For the News & Messenger
In Monday’s Group AAA Northwest Region quarterfinal, Forest Park’s defense came up with enough big plays to keep within striking distance of Loudoun Valley.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, it was not enough as they lost a tough 3-1 decision to the Vikings.
Loudoun Valley (18-5) travels to Halifax Wednesday for a regional semifinal.
Forest Park (14-8) retired Hailey Tretick on a run-scoring grounder to third for the first out of the first inning. Moments later, Loudoun Valley starting pitcher Caroline Williams rolled a grounder to shortstop Kristina Braxton, who threw to catcher Jackie Lowe just after Perrin Raudabaugh slid in safely on a very close play.
After that, Forest Park third baseman Blair Lowe caught a line drive off the bat of Shelby Wassmann and made a nice pickup of a grounder in the hole by Logan Tretick to finish the inning with the Bruins down just 2-0.
If Lowe did not field those balls, the damage could have been much worse. Forest Park coach Jay Carter praised his sophomore third baseman.
“She is reliable. I am glad she is coming back next year,” Carter said.
Forest Park answered with a run in the bottom of the first as Braxton drilled a single to center and moved to second when Blair Lowe singled to left. Melissa Carter moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt and Braxton scored when Chelsea Paprocki grounded to second.
But Abbey Ellis hit a soft liner to first to end the threat and Forest Park’s bats were largely silent after that.
Williams mixed her pitches well, striking out six, and allowing just three hits.
Carter said Williams did a good job, but the lack of offense was mainly due to a lack of execution.
“They could hit her. They were just getting around late,” Carter said. “We knew what we wanted to do, we just couldn’t make it happen. But winning the Cardinal District was an accomplishment because we had been there for three straight years and finally won it. Hopefully next year we can make a good run in regionals.”
Forest Park might have been buried were it not for the play of Blair Lowe, who caught two other line drives and kept several other Loudoun Valley hits from reaching the outfield.
In addition, Paprocki made a couple solid plays in center field and sparked another scoring opportunity by drilling a single in the fourth inning, then sliding around the tag while attempting to steal second. The threat, however, ended when Williams fanned two and retired another hitter on a soft fly ball.
“Chelsea is my (main) senior (starter). She did a terrific job during her four years here and I don’t think she wanted it to end like it did.” Carter said.
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