As they walked through the line to shake hands after Tuesday’s Cedar Run District showdown at Stonewall Jackson, Raiders sophomore pitcher Melissa Kirby was all smiles. But she had one thing to say to Osbourn Park junior catcher Kat Solarcyzk.
“I was like, ‘You’re walking,’” said Kirby jokingly, who was to give her good friend a ride home. “Last time I actually struck her out. This time she got a hold of that thing.”
Solarcyzk got the best of Kirby at the plate, hitting her first home run of the season over the center field wall in the top of sixth inning. But Kirby and the Raiders had the last laugh.
Stonewall exacted revenge for its only loss of season, to Osbourn Park, with a 2-1, extra-innings victory over the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday to pull even at the top of the district standings.
Kirby sparked the game-winning rally with a single to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning. She then scored on senior Amanda Bures’s ground ball to right field that went underneath the glove of Osbourn Park second baseman Kat Beauvais. Right fielder Lynsey Cunningham was there for backup, but senior catcher Lauren Hensley was unable to handle her throw at home plate.
“Kirby pitched a great game for them. If we catch a ground ball there, we’re okay,” said Osbourn Park coach Willie Lemay.
“I was expecting Kat to gobble that up. You always teach the kids to put the ball in play,” said Stonewall coach Jason Koch. “We got the breaks.”
The Raiders (15-1, 5-1 district) used a couple breaks to open the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning, when senior catcher Kimmy Spinks reached second on a dropped ball in the outfield and then scored when Hensley couldn’t make the tag at home on a sacrifice fly freshman Britney Orsborn.
Solarcyzk tied the game for the Yellow Jackets (13-3, 5-1) pinch-hitting for Orsborn.
“I don’t even know what I saw. I thought it was going to the glove,” said Solarcyzk. “[The loss] still leaves a sour taste, but I’m also really happy for it to happen.”
Raider nation
» Stonewall Jackson sophomore pitcher Melissa Kirby allowed six hits and struck out nine batters.
» Osbourn Park freshman pitcher Sheila Davies allowed four hits and struck out two, but she was replaced by her older sister, sophomore Rachel Davies, with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning.
