BERRYVILLE — Seeking its third consecutive trip to the Class 4 state tournament, the James Wood High School softball team continued its strong start on Tuesday.
The Colonels defeated Clarke County 1-0, one day after opening its season with a 10-4 win over Skyline. James Wood sophomores Kati Brannon and Sophia Gerald combined to shut out the Eagles on just one hit, with Gerald’s RBI single in the fourth inning delivering the game’s only run.
“Our pitching and defense were spectacular today,” James Wood coach Patrick Gibson said.
The Colonels needed every bit of their impressive pitching because of how well Clarke County freshman Madyson Thacker threw the ball. In a complete game, she allowed just the one run on three hits while striking out five and walking four. Thacker also had Clarke’s only hit of the game.
“We put a lot of balls in play, we just didn’t get them to fall tonight,” Gibson said. “We told them out there [in the team meeting after the game] that early [in the season], pitchers are ahead of the hitters. I am a little bit concerned because we hit better than that in practice and in our scrimmages. But Props to Thacker. She pitched a good game, kept us off balance.
“We have some situational things to work on and obviously our hitting, but it will come. A win is a win. We’re 2-0, and that’s the most important thing.”
Things looked good early on for Clarke County (0-1). In each of the first three innings the Eagles got a runner into scoring position with less than two outs off of Brannon, but each time she was able to slam the door and keep Clarke off the scoreboard.
In the bottom of the first Courtney Paskel drew a one-out walk, stole second, then went to third on a wild pitch. However, Brannon struck out the next two hitters, stranding Paskel at third.
Thacker drilled a one-out double to the right field alley in the bottom of the second. Anna Taylor moved courtesy runner Brooke Choate to third with a sacrifice bunt, but Brannon again got out of the inning with another strikeout.
Thacker retired the first six hitters she faced, striking out a pair.
James Wood threatened in the third when its first two base runners reached. Gabby Madagan led off the inning with a walk, followed by Aubrey Nail’s perfect bunt single. With two on and no outs, Adilynn Ellison flew out to right field. Leadoff hitter Brynnen Williams, who led the Colonels in hits last season, rocketed a line drive towards the outfield. However, it was right at Clarke center fielder Emmerson Kennedy, who not only made the catch but was able to fire into second before the runner could get back for an inning-ending double play.
For the third straight inning the Eagles got a one-out base runner in the bottom of the third. Kennedy walked and stole second but Brannon got a strikeout and a comebacker to strand the runner and end the inning.
In the fourth inning, James Wood catcher Aliza Judd drew a walk, and senior Emma Hild entered as her courtesy runner. Cleanup hitter Molly Maynard dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Hild to second. Gerald then ripped a sharp grounder down the third baseline inside the bag that just snuck under the glove of Eagles third baseman Miranda Smith. Hild rounded third and was able to score standing up just ahead of the throw.
Brannon (1-0) worked 3.1 innings giving up one hit and walked two. She struck out six in her first start of the year.
As good as Brannon was, Gerald was virtually untouchable. She worked the last 3.2 innings and struck out 10 of the 12 hitters she faced. She allowed one baserunner, a two out-walk in the sixth. It was the second straight day Gerald recorded 10 strikeouts.
“[Brannan and Gerald] complement each other well,” Gibson said. “[Gerald] located well, hitting her spots, attacking hitters, everything we want her to do. She’s got some good stuff so if she throws strikes and attacks hitters I like our chances.”
Wood threatened again in the sixth as a result of a pair of Thacker walks, but Thacker was able to work around them, stranding Wood runners on first and third.
“[Thacker’s a] freshman and pitched her butt off,” Clarke County coach Jeff Parker said. “I thought defensively we played well. We just left too many on base. At the end of the day we couldn’t string together enough hits. Too many strikeouts.”
The Eagles have five freshmen, so Parker is looking forward to seeing his team grow.
“[This game is a good way to start,” Parker said. “We can only get better with our hitting, and we will. We’re a better hitting team [than we showed]. I think a lot of it was first-game jitters and nerves. I was happy with our effort tonight. Communication was good.
“I’m encouraged with this group. They have good attitudes, a lot of energy and we’re young. Both our pitchers are freshmen, so we’ll have our bumps.”
Aubrey Nail led the way for the Colonels at the plate, finishing 2 for 3 with two perfectly placed bunt hits. Each of Clarke’s top three hitters, Kennedy, Paskel, and Peyton DeHaven, had a stolen base.
James Wood is back in action Thursday when it travels to Strasburg. Clarke County is off until Saturday when it hosts Sherando for a doubleheader starting at noon.