Published: May 16, 2008 11:41 pm            

Randolph, Holman spark Pulaski on Senior Night

Somerset — It was a memorable night for those who saw the match-up between Williamsburg and Pulaski County Friday evening.

The first reason it was memorable was the impressive collision of two hot softball teams. Pulaski County rode an eight game win streak into the game, and sported the most wins within 12th Regional play, sporting a 17-2 record in those games. Williamsburg had won five straight coming in, and likewise had the most wins within 13th Regional play with a record of 13-5.

But the most memorable part was the honoring of the three Lady Maroon seniors-- Kristin Dowell, K. K. Holman, and Jessica Randolph. One was getting ready to accomplish something she had done so many times. One would do something she had never done before.

Jessica Randolph had pitched PC to a Regional championship in her sophomore year, but had spent much of her time since then putting on the catching gear, where Coach Scott Taylor claims she is the best backstop in the 12th Region. On Senior Night Taylor once again called on the multi-talented senior to deliver the goods. There was one other neat factor: Jessica’s younger sister Samantha, who is in middle school, got the opportunity to catch her sister for the first inning before being replaced by Morgan Pike, the usual catcher when Randolph is toeing the mound.

Things, however, didn’t start all that smoothly for the lady Maroons. The leadoff hitter, Ashleigh Taylor, topped one that came to rest halfway to the mound. Randolph charged in to pick it up and slipped to the ground. By the time she threw to first the runner was safe. The Lady Yellow Jackets would capitalize on two walks, two stolen bases, and a wild pitch to put the first run on the board. But the single by Taylor would be the last hit for Williamsburg until the 7th inning.

“Jessica gave a really strong performance on the mound tonight,” said Taylor. “It was by far the best she’d pitched all year.”

In the bottom of the inning Pulaski answered back with three base hits. Randolph scored on a hit from freshman Lindsey Stephens to tie the score at 1-1.

In innings 2-5 Randolph dominated, allowing only one lonely walk to the visitors from the 13th Region. They broke the tie in the bottom of the inning in a most unexpected way.

PC sent the top of their lineup to the plate hoping to get someone on base for the big boppers lower in the order. But instead of being a base ‘runner’ K.K. Holman decided she would rather be a base ‘trotter’. After going her entire career without a single home run, she took a fastball directly over the scoreboard in left center field.

“That was really something,” said Taylor. “K.K. getting her first home run on Senior Night of all nights.”

The lead only lasted a half an inning, as Williamsburg tied it in the top of the sixth with an unearned run that followed a pair of walks and a pair of errors.

The game was decided in the seventh. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Ashleigh Taylor got the Lady Yellow Jackets first legitimate hit of the game, driving a double into the gap. Just one out from finishing the game, Randolph then threw a wild pitch and eventually walked the next batter. With runners at the corners and two outs, Taylor decided to make a move. It turned out he had more in mind than just a pitching change.

Freshman Brittany McKee came on to pitch, with Randolph moving behind the plate. On the very first pitch the runner took off for second while the go ahead runner waited to scamper home from third. Randolph took the pitch and gunned it to second where Holman scooped it and tagged the runner for the third out of the inning.

“That was a great play for us,” said Taylor. “We called the play from the bench thinking we might take them by surprise. It had worked for us several times this season so we tried it again.

“But I’ll tell you right now, it’s not a play you call unless you have perfect confidence in your pitcher, your catcher, and your shortstop. And we have that confidence in them.”

In the bottom of the seventh, with the score still tied, the first two Lady Maroons made outs and it looked like they were headed for that strange International Rule Tie-Breaker system in extra innings. But…..

Freshman Morgan Pike singled to keep the inning alive. Williamsburg pitcher Cicely Sears then hit Jessica Randolph with a pitch for the second time in the game. Then it was another freshman, Lindsey Stephens, who singled in Pike with the winning run on Senior Night, as the Lady Maroons ran their record to 23-8 with a 3-2 victory, their ninth in a row. And an 8th Grader, Brittany McKee, got the easiest victory she’ll ever get, throwing just one pitch!

“I just want to take this opportunity to say how proud I am of these three seniors,” said Taylor. “They have been a huge part of the success of this program. They were there when we started trying to build the program here and they’ve worked so hard to raise Pulaski County Softball to the level it’s at now.

“I have challenged these younger players, and I will continue to challenge them, to not let what these girls have worked so hard to build go to waste. We’re trying to build a program here—a legacy of hard work and excellence. They inherit something these seniors, and the girls who have graduated before them have built through sweat and hard work. It’s up to them to uphold the tradition and build upon it.”

The Lady Yellow Jackets, coached by Andrea Ellis, fall to 18-11 on the season. The Lady Maroons have two remaining regular season games to be played at home on Saturday at Noon and 4 p.m. before hosting the 47th District Tournament starting Monday.





W-burg 100 001 0 = 2 2 1

P. C. 100 010 1 = 3 7 2



Williamsburg—

C. Sears 6.2 IP, 3ER, 3R, 7H, 6K, 1BB, 2HBP



2B—Taylor

SB—Burr, C. Sears





Pulaski County—

Randolph 6.2IP, 1ER, 2R, 2H, 8K, 5BB

McKee .1 IP, 0ER, 0R, 0H, 0K, 0BB

HR—Holman

SB—Hatfield

RBI—Stephens 2, Holman

        

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