Steele Pitches Pioneers Past James Wood, 5-3

Posted: April 9, 2014
By MARK SAWYER
Special to The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — Over the course of their first four games of the season, spanning just over a week, the Millbrook softball team has found different ways to win seemingly each time out.

Whether it be by the 10-run rule or a late-inning rally, the Pioneers have figured out a way to win each of their early-season contests.

The Pioneers knew, however, heading into their Tuesday night matchup against Northwestern District rival James Wood and ace pitcher Kierstyn Peacoe that runs very well could be hard to come by.

With Millbrook ace MacKenzi Steele in the circle for the Pioneers, the night had the makings for a pretty good pitcher’s duel, and the two pitchers didn’t disappoint.

Through four innings each was working on a shutout and when Wood pushed across a run in its half of the fifth it looked like it might be all Peacoe needed.

Unfortunately for Wood, a tiring Peacoe had to give way to the bullpen and the Pioneers were able to take advantage, rallying for four runs in their half of the fifth to slip by the Colonels 5-3 at Millbrook High School.

“I’m glad with the win, not totally thrilled with the entire game,” said Millbrook coach Mandee Madden. “We put runs on the board when we needed to, we buckled down on defense and a win’s a win right now. It’s still early in the season and that’s what we’re looking for right now.

“Anytime we play a district game, a rival against James Wood, it’s anybody’s ball game all year. Honestly, my first thought was this was going to be a one-run ball game, it was going to be a close game. We came out a little bit flat, made some mental mistakes, and I’m not going to lie, I was a little bit nervous when that first run scored.”

Steele was in trouble almost the entire night with at least one runner in scoring position in every inning but the sixth. But nearly each and every time she was able to make a pitch, record a strikeout, or count on a nice defensive play to get her out of a jam.

She worked all seven innings, scattering seven hits while allowing three runs (two earned). She walked four, hit one batter and struck out nine.

“We can play better than that, it just seems like we haven’t been keeping the intensity up,” Steele said. “I think today we did a good job of learning how to win and closing out the game. We’re very happy with where we are, we just need to keep working hard and we should finish well.

“Most of the time I’m just trying to keep my composure pitching with the bases loaded. I know that if they get one run it’s not that big of a deal, my offense will back me up. Those four runs definitely gave me some security [in the circle].”

James Wood (2-5, 1-2 Northwestern District) broke the scoreless tie with a nice combination of power and the short game.

Leading off the fifth, Peacoe decided to help herself by blasting a double off the left-field fence, which didn’t miss being a home run by much.

A sacrifice bunt by Taylor Woolsey moved Peacoe to third. Shortstop Courteney Harper then dropped down a perfect squeeze bunt, allowing Peacoe to beat the throw home for a 1-0 advantage.

Another bunt base hit off the bat of Alyssa Brown and a sacrifice by Whitney Dick put two more in scoring position. Laura Gates was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but the Colonels were turned away from anymore runs when Steele got a fly out to end the inning.

Through four innings Peacoe scattered four hits and had walked one, but she didn’t have any easy innings either and was tiring as the game entered the late innings.

With a one-run lead Peacoe started the fifth inning but walked the leadoff hitter Kellie Jenkins and the Colonels went to the bullpen.

“Peacoe has a presence [in the circle] and she pitched well,” Madden said. “We need to make some adjustments next time we see her.

“Kenzie threw a great game, she kept the ball down and made them hit it. I was very pleased with her effort tonight. We’ve just got to come together and we did that tonight.”

Pioneer senior center fielder Sydney Barr wasted little time greeting the reliever by ripping a double off the fence in right center, putting runners on second and third.

Millbrook (5-0, 3-0) tied the game on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Marissa Lee and took the lead on Emily Ringer’s RBI infield single.

Junior third baseman Sarah Clark followed with an RBI triple to the gap in left center, making it 3-1, and later scored on a Hannah Lockhart RBI ground ball.

The Pioneers were able to extend the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Hannah Cloyle led off with a double down the leftfield line. She moved to third on a sacrifice by Jenkins and scored on Barr’s sacrifice fly for a 5-1 lead.

Wood was far from done and no where near ready to give up though. With one out in the seventh Brown reached on an error and moved to third on a double by Dick.

An RBI single by Gates made it 5-2 and Dick scored to trim the lead to two on a fielders choice off the bat of Hayley Whitacre, but that’s as close as the Colonels could get as Steele was able to get a ground ball to end the rally and the game.

“That’s the difference in the game, when they had to have a hit they got it,” said James Wood coach Ted McDaniel. “I’m very encouraged by Peacoe’s progress, I think she’s getting better and better. I think the second half of the year we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.

“I told the girls they play hard. We made some mistakes on the bases that we need to eliminate, but I just wanted them to know how proud I am of them, how much I believe in them.”

Millbrook outhit the Colonels 8-7, with three hits coming in their big four-run inning. Barr, Ringer, and Clark each had two hits, an RBI and a run scored to lead the way for the Pioneers. Seven different Colonels had one hit each on the night. Peacoe and Dick each had a double and scored a run for Wood.