Peacoe returns, lifts Colonels

April 15, 2011

By Mark Sawyer
Special to The Winchester Star       

WINCHESTER- When Kierstyn Peacoe sprained her ankle April 7 against Sherando, James Wood softball coach Ted McDaniel said he didn't know when - or even if - his team would get its star freshman pitcher back.

One week later, the Colonels got a very pleasant surprise.

Just before their Northwestern District game Thursday night against Millbrook, McDaniel and his coaching staff decided that Peacoe would be able to pitch, and boy did she deliver.

Still hobbled by the injury, Peacoe fired a one-hitter and struck out 12, and senior shortstop Morgan Sykes went 4 for 4 and scored two runs as the Colonels won 10-0 in a game stopped after five innings. "I didn't decide until about 30 minutes before the game," McDaniel said of starting Peacoe. "She's tough. Last week I wouldn't have given two cents for her chances to come back. She's got a lot of heart. She worked and iced and did everything she was supposed to do to get the swelling out of it. I'm really proud of her."

Peacoe did not pitch as James Wood beat Loudoun Valley 7-3 in the second game of its double-opponent double-header Thursday night. Senior Erin McCarthy earned her first varsity win, allowing just one earned run in seven innings.

Things didn't start off so well for Peacoe in the opener. Perhaps a bit unsure of how her ankle would respond, she hit two of the first three hitters she faced.

But she got in the zone in a hurry.

Peacoe (5-1) retired the next two hitters to end the inning and only allowed three more to reach base the rest of the game. Through four innings the only two balls that were put into play were bunts right back to her.

The first threat of a hit came with one out in the fifth inning, when Mandi Shillingburg struck a fly ball well toward left field, but Rachael Largent made a nice catch for the second out of the inning.

Sydney Barr then broke up the no-hitter by dropping a fly ball just in front of Wood center fielder Morgan Baker. Barr, hustling all the way, was able to get a double on the play, but Peacoe ended the inning by striking out the next hitter.

"I was just really excited, because I'm coming off an injury and to be the starting pitcher still is really a good feeling," Peacoe said. "I just wanted to get back out there. I didn't want a sprained ankle to hold me up. I didn't really pay any attention to it when I was pitching, but when I was in the dugout it throbbed."

James Wood (6-2-1, 1-1 Northwestern) gave its pitcher plenty of run support. All but two starters got at least one hit, and all but one scored at least one run.

Sykes got the hit parade started in the bottom of the first, ripping a 3-1 pitch to the gap in right center for a leadoff triple. One out later, McCarthy singled to center to make it 1-0.

The Colonels exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second but had plenty of help. Millbrook committed four errors and walked four hitters in the inning.

Whitney Dick (2 for 2 with two walks, a run, and an RBI) led off with a walk and moved to third on a single by fellow freshman Sara Hoover. Hoover stole second, and Dick scored when the throw went into center field.

Consecutive singles by Megan Christian and Sykes loaded the bases, and a walk to Baker made it 3-0. Three more errors, two wild pitches, and two more walks led to Wood's final five runs of the inning.

A two-out RBI single by Largent in the fourth gave the Colonels a 9-0 lead, and they ended the game by scoring another unearned run in the fifth when Dick drove in McCarthy.

"My freshmen are awesome," Sykes said. "Kierstyn is such a trooper. I could not believe she was cleared to play today. Sara Hoover is a very good hitter, and Whitney Dick got the winning hit. All three freshmen pretty much carried this game.

"The last few years have been challenging. It's nice to be confident and knowing our talent. I knew if Kierstyn went out there she would do her best. I couldn't be more proud of her. She has made our jobs very easy this year."

Millbrook (1-8, 0-1) only had five runners reach base and only two got as far as second.

"Not what I expected at all," Pioneers coach Michelle Long said. "We're trying to find ourselves right now. We're trying to understand each other, find a leader, and come to terms with the team atmosphere. Our hitting was not good. We weren't putting the ball in play. All aspects of the game are kind of up in the air right now, and there's not a whole lot of consistency in our defense."

Along with her job on the mound, McCarthy went 3 for 4 to lead the Colonels offensively in the nightcap against Loudoun Valley.

Sykes went 2 for 4 (and led off the bottom of the first with a triple in both games). Hoover and Christian were each 2 for 3 in the second game.