Colonels shut out Handley in softball

April 22, 2011

By Mark Sawyer
Special to The Winchester Star       

WINCHESTER- Fresh off a victory over Skyline that vaulted them into sole possession of second place in the Northwestern District, the James Wood softball team was intent on not overlooking winless Handley on Thursday.

Though the Colonels only collected six hits, they capitalized on numerous Handley mistakes and rolled to an 11-0 victory at Henkel-Harris Field that stopped after five innings because of the mercy rule.

"Today wasn't our most inspired game of the year, but still we did what we had to do to win. That's all I ever ask of them," said James Wood coach Ted McDaniel, whose team rallied for an emotional 3-2 victory over Skyline on Tuesday. "A few timely hits and walks, that's a winning combination. We've just crossed the halfway point [of the season], and we're 8-2-1. I'm happy with that." For Handley (0-11, 0-2 Northwestern) it was the same story as all year long - too many mistakes to overcome and not enough offense to stay in the game.

Just one day after being held to one hit by first-place Sherando, the Judges ran into the most improved team in the district, and Colonels freshman standout Kierstyn Peacoe.

Peacoe (7-2) pitched all five innings and just missed tossing a no-hitter when Destini Wallace broke it up with a two-out single in the fifth. Peacoe walked two, hit one and struck out nine.

"Kierstyn made some good pitches when she had to," McDaniel said. "One out away from a no-hitter - that's the second time she's done that."

It was the second time in two days that Wallace picked up Handley's only hit of the game. The Judges only had five runners reach base (one in each inning).

James Wood, which improved to 3-1 in the district, threatened in the first inning, but a pair of nice defensive plays by the Judges kept the game scoreless.

Wood got on the scoreboard with two runs in the second inning. Peacoe led off with a double and, after an out, back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Morgan Sykes followed with her second hit of the game, a two-run single to left.

"She's as hot as a firecracker on the Fourth of July," McDaniel said of Sykes. "I've never seen anybody on a tear like she is now. She just does it all. She's doing an excellent job of getting on base and doing what she has to do for us to win. Nobody's worked any harder then she has, and it's good to see it pay off for her."

Though the Judges played better Thursday than they did 24 hours earlier, they still had several defensive and pitching miscues. Handley walked nine, threw six wild pitches, and committed six errors.

The Colonels broke the game open with four runs in the third inning, and they only needed one hit - an RBI double by Morgan Baker - to do it.

Erin McCarthy scored on a wild pitch, and Charlotte Viands and courtesy runner Whitney Dick each scored on an error. In the inning there were three walks, three errors and two wild pitches.

Still trailing 6-0, Handley gave up five runs in the fifth without allowing a hit. A bases loaded walk to Rachael Largent scored one run, and the other four scored on wild pitches. Wood was the benefactor of four walks, four wild pitches and two more errors in the inning.

"The first inning was a tough inning and we held them," Handley coach Jodi Milburn said. "We get some base runners on and just can't get any runs. We hold them the first few innings, then we start making the silly mistakes, the errors and they come back and bite us.

"Now, our hitting has dropped, and again it's our confidence - the young team believing in themselves. We did see improvements. I tell the players everything is inside their hearts right now, [and they] know what to do. It's that passion and getting that passion out here on the field."