WINCHESTER — As Aliza Judd went to the plate in the bottom of the seventh on Wednesday, coach Patrick Gibson had a message for her.
“Remember your nickname,” Gibson told his starting catcher.
After giving Gibson a smile back, Judd showcased just why her teammates call her “clutch.”
Judd hit a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh to propel the James Wood High School softball team to a walk-off, 4-3 win over Clarke County on Wednesday night.
Leading off the bottom of the seventh frame for the Colonels (6-1), Judd hit the double to left field on an 0-2 count. After Emma Hild came in as a pinch runner for Judd, Molly Maynard singled on a bunt to Clarke’s pitcher. Attempting to get an out, Clarke’s pitcher lofted the ball over the first baseman’s head, allowing Hild to cross home plate to defeat the Eagles (3-4).
When she’s in those do-or-die moments, Judd doesn’t let the pressure grab hold of her.
“I think every at-bat is the same,” Judd said. “Whether there’s no outs or two, or there’s runners on or there’s not, I’m just looking to hit the ball every time. Where to hit it, that’s a little different, but putting the ball in play is what I’m trying to do every single at-bat.”
The senior’s double was reminiscent of last year’s Region 4D semifinal game against Sherando when she hit a two-run, walk-off single to clinch a state tournament berth for the Colonels for the second consecutive season.
Gibson said Judd always comes through with big hits when the team needs them most.
“She got down 0-2, and I was like, ‘Come on, get at least … your swing off,’” Gibson said. “She did, and it just says everything about her, man. That’s what she is. She’s clutch, a hard worker and the type of type of kid you want to coach.”
Judd added that she fell behind in the count because she was hunting for the right pitch.
“I didn’t want to swing at those pitches; I didn’t think they were any good,” Judd said. “So, I took the outside pitch where I had to go, and it worked out.”
Judd’s hit came after the Colonels came back from a 2-0 deficit.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Brynnen Williams lined a two-RBI double to center field, bringing home Kayleigh Harden and Gabrielle Madagan to tie the game 2-2.
The Colonels then took their first lead of the game on a Sophia Gerald solo homer over the center-field fence in the bottom of the fifth.
Clarke County responded in the top of the sixth with a homer of its own, this one coming off the bat of Peyton DeHaven.
“Peyton had been struggling swinging the bat the past couple of games and pressing a little bit,” Clarke coach Jeff Parker said. “It was good to see her hit that, square up and give her a little bit of confidence, hopefully going forward in the season.”
The Eagles had a chance to take the lead back in the sixth frame after Claire Unger got walked to set up a bases-loaded situation. Sophia Gerald then struck out Clarke’s next batter to get out of the jam.
Going in the circle for the last inning in relief of Gerald, Kati Brannon retired all three Clarke batters in the top of the seventh to set up the walk-off victory.
“Our pitching was outstanding,” Gibson said. “Man, [Gerald] pitched her tail off. [Judd] did a great job behind the plate. Kati came in and shut the door, which is important. They kept us in the game.”
Gerald tossed seven strikeouts and allowed eight hits in 6.0 innings. She also was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.
Parker thought Wednesday’s game was a sign of good things to come for his squad.
“Probably the best game we’ve played this season,” Parker said. “We’ve been struggling hitting the ball, and Monday and Tuesday at practice, we worked really hard at our hitting. It seemed to translate to hits tonight against a good team.”
Clarke’s Emmerson Kennedy finished 3 for 4 with a double and a run. Emma Johnson was 2 for 3 with a double and a run.
In the first matchup between Wood and Clarke in what was the Eagles’ first game of the season, Wood had three hits in a 1-0 win.
Judd believes the two wins over Clarke showcased how Wood is quick to recover when things aren’t going the team’s way.
“We don’t give up,” Judd said. “We go down early, we keep fighting.”
Wood will travel to Fauquier and Clarke will host Rappahannock County on Friday.
— Contact Justin Robertson at jrobertson@winchesterstar.com
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