Peros’ hit delivers Osbourn

Then for five innings, Stone Bridge pitcher Ashley Gardner silenced the bats of the host Eagles. But playing in its fifth state quarterfinal in the last six years, Osbourn calmly solved the Bulldogs’ ace as junior Nikki Peros delivered a single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Osbourn a 3-2 victory.

Peros’ solid liner to right center, her third hit of the game, scored pinch runner Shelby Peters with two out and sent Osbourn (24-3) to the state semifinals. The Eagles will play Patrick Henry or Kellam Friday in Newport News.

“We knew we were going to pull it out,” said Peros, a first baseman. “It’s our heart that pulls us through these games.”

Peros’ hit ended a frustrating game for Eagles who collected 16 hits, all singles, but ran into outs on the bases in three of the last four innings.

Moments before Peros’ winning hit, senior Caitlin Davis was thrown out at the plate after a single by junior Brittany Barlow.

Peros credited Barlow afterward for signaling the pitch location.

“Brittany was at second base and signaled inside,” said Peros. “I moved a few inches off the plate and that’s exactly where the pitch came.”

The hit made a winner of sophomore pitcher Ashleigh Williams, who limited Stone Bridge (18-10) to four hits, didn’t walk a batter, and retired the last 11 batters she faced. Williams also helped herself at the plate, going 4-for-5. One of her hits came in the winning rally.

“I knew our time would come,” said Williams. “I was so pumped. I was going, ‘State game got to win. Let’s get it done.’”

Two years ago, Peros was a wide-eyed freshman, the last player off the bench for a state runner-up team. These days she is one of the Eagles’ leaders.

“As a freshman, I would have been way too nervous,” said Peros. “There’s no way I would have wanted to be in that position. But today, that’s where I wanted to be.”

And now the Eagles are where they want to be — on their way to the beach.