WINCHESTER — Minutes before Friday’s high school softball game between James Wood and Millbrook was supposed to begin, lightning in the area delayed the first pitch.
And while there was no accompanying thunder, Kayleigh Harden made sure to bring the boom shortly after the hour-long delay.
Harden hit a two-run home run as Wood scored all three of its runs in the sixth inning to defeat Millbrook 3-0 on Friday. The Colonels also won the second game of the doubleheader after the Millbrook game, defeating Handley 22-0.
After putting just one runner in scoring position through the first five innings against Millbrook, James Wood (14-6, 5-3 Class 4 Northwestern District) got hot in the sixth.
Molly Maynard got walked to kick things off. She then reached second on a passed ball. A Sophia Gerald line-drive RBI single over the Millbrook shortstop’s head then brought Maynard home for the go-ahead score.
On the next at-bat, Harden showcased just how much power she can bring to the table.
After five foul balls, Harden hit a full-count, two-run homer over the left field fence, giving her team a comfortable 3-0 lead over the Pioneers (8-8, 3-2) heading into the top of the seventh. It was Harden’s fifth homer of the season, tying Clarke County’s Madyson Thacker for the most in the area.
Wood coach Patrick Gibson was glad to see Harden be resilient at the plate.
“What a great at-bat, man,” Gibson said. “She kept fouling off pitches, and she kept laying off ones a little bit up and out, and she got the barrel on them. Just a great at-bat, gritty at-bat. Three to nothing and one to nothing is a lot different during the seventh.”
Gerald, who pitched a complete game in the circle, then closed things out in the final frame.
While she gave up a Jazmin Orr leadoff double, Gerald finished the inning by retiring three straight batters, the last two of whom she struck out. Gerald pitched a complete game and threw nine strikeouts while giving up just two hits.
Gerald also finished 1 for 3 with a run and an RBI.
Gibson thought Gerald answered the bell all night.
“What a performance,” Gibson said of Gerald. “Man, like, she did everything we asked of her. I think they got two hits. To pitch a two-hitter and get the key hit, man, that’s a great game. She was awesome.”
Gibson has liked what he’s seen from the Colonels over their three-game win streak, and he’s hoping that success will only continue down the stretch.
“We want to keep playing good, fundamental softball,” Gibson said. “But we want to be at our best towards the end of the year, and I feel like we’re doing that now. So, we’re on a roll. That’s another great win against Millbrook right there, and we just got to keep it rolling. We’ve got to pretend like every game is an elimination game from here on out.”
After falling to Wood on Monday and Tuscarora on Thursday, Millbrook suffered its third straight loss as the playoffs approach.
Millbrook coach Carolyn Campbell is hoping her team can turn things around in the final three games of the regular season.
“They’re always positive, but they’re the ones with the bat in their hands,” Campbell said. “They’re the ones with the ball in their hands. They have to be the ones to do it. We’ll give them all the advice and all the help that they deserve, but ultimately, they have to put the ball in play.”
Emma Martin had nine strikeouts in the circle in 5.2 innings to lead the Pioneers. Orr finished 1 for 3 with a double.
Wood will travel to Warren County on Monday. Millbrook will visit Sherando on Tuesday to complete their first game that was suspended and also play their regularly scheduled game.
— Contact Justin Robertson at jrobertson@winchesterstar.com
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