Wood softball rallies to win in the 8th

April 19, 2011

By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star       

WINCHESTER- Prior to the bottom of the seventh inning Monday, James Wood softball coach Ted McDaniel told his team, "You've got no quit in you."

There probably isn't enough room because of the extra large hearts they were born with.

After being down to their last strike in the seventh, the Colonels were hugging each other in joy one inning later when freshman Whitney Dick's squeeze bunt scored freshman Kierstyn Peacoe with the winning run in a 3-2 Northwestern District victory over visiting Skyline.

"I'm never been so proud in my life," said Dick (2 for 4 with an RBI), whose moment wouldn't have been possible if not for sophomore Rachael Largent's two-out, two-run single that tied the score in the seventh. "This just shows James Wood just doesn't stop. We always fight to the end." McDaniel raved about his Colonels (7-2-1, 2-1) after their first comeback victory, when they scored twice in the sixth and twice in the seventh to beat Hedgesville (W.Va.) 6-5 on March 25.

But it's a little more special when it's a district win and it comes against a pitcher like Skyline's Sarah Beamer, who held James Wood to one hit through four innings and escaped bases-loaded jams in the fifth and sixth innings.

"We don't quit, we don't give up, and we've got each other's backs," McDaniel said. "I'm just really pleased with the things they've done and they continue to do."

Two of James Wood's three freshmen helped extend the team's win streak to three.

Peacoe (6-1) went the distance in the circle, allowing two earned runs, seven hits and no walks while striking out 11.

She led off the bottom of the eighth with a triple down the right-field line that barely landed fair and out of the grasp of diving Skyline right fielder Heather Pomeroy.

That set the stage for Dick, who was able to bunt down a high pitch from Beamer as Peacoe (2 for 4) charged down the line. Beamer fielded it quickly and threw home, but it was too late to get the sliding Peacoe.

"That was a tremendously great feeling," Peacoe said.

McDaniel said the ankle Peacoe injured on April 8 against Sherando still isn't quite right, but he had no intention of using a courtesy runner for her in that situation, as he did earlier in the game.

"Sixty feet, she's our fastest runner," McDaniel said. "Maybe even a non-district game, I might have put somebody to run for her so she doesn't jam that ankle again.

"I didn't know [third base coach] Todd [Baker] was going to put the bunt on, but I said I'll just leave Kierstyn out there because a fly ball or something, at least she can tag and get to the plate faster than anybody, even with a bad ankle."

McDaniel said it seems as if each game a different person is coming through to propel the Colonels to victory.

On Monday, Largent felt it was her turn.

After four batters in the seventh, James Wood had one out and the bases loaded - the same situation it had in the fifth and sixth.

The Colonels couldn't score the first two times. And after Beamer (three earned runs, nine hits, three walks and one hit batter to go with 12 strikeouts) struck out Charlotte Viands and got to 0-2 on Largent, it appeared as if Skyline's calm and collected sophomore pitcher would get herself out of another jam and deliver the Hawks (3-6, 0-2) the win.

But Largent fouled off the third pitch, then took a ball.

"[The pitches] were high, and they were low, and they were outside, and I was like, 'Oh lord,'" Largent said. "But before the last foul ball, Todd [Baker] looked at me and was like, 'Get your own,' and I was like, 'I'm going to get mine. I'm going to get mine. It's mine.'"

Largent fouled off another pitch, then lined a shot to center that scored Megan Christian and Morgan Sykes (2 for 3 with a double).

Largent was practically dancing after taking second on the throw home, as she stood on the base and pumped her fist at Baker.

"I wasn't hitting very well in the beginning, as you could tell," Largent said. "Grounded out, pop up, pop up. It was just really bad.

"But once I got mine, I was like, 'Yes. I did it for my team. I did it for myself.' It was just great. I can't even explain it. It was just like, 'Wooooh!'"

Essentially, Largent's recreation of that moment summed up an entire team's feelings overall.

"This win gives us even more faith in each other," Peacoe said.

Erin McCarthy went 2 for 4 for the Colonels.

Skyline was also led by Allison Funk (2 for 4 with a double and a run), Taylor Henry (2 for 4 with an RBI), and Tara Robinson (2 for 3 with an RBI).

- Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.