Wilson keeps it together to beat Riverheads

FISHERSVILLE — After a flawless opening three innings Friday afternoon, Wilson Memorial almost allowed a 3-0 lead to slip away against Shenandoah District rival Riverheads.

After Katie Grimm pitched three perfect innings, Wilson gave up three crucial errors in the final four innings, but was able to keep its offense rolling for a 6-3 win.

“The kids really wanted to beat Riverheads,” said acting Wilson coach Kim Claytor, who is filling in for coach Maura Stout while she is on maternity leave. “We had a couple of errors, but they didn’t give up and we came out on top. I told them to play for coach Stout and her new baby.”

Riverheads coach Jenn Colvin said the Gladiators came to play but looked distracted after Grimm threw the opening pitch.

“I thought the girls, pre-game, were ready to play, they were having fun and smiling, but then we got into the game and I don’t know if it was nerves or thinking of prom, but we were not focused on playing softball,” she said.

After shutting down the Gladiators in order to start the game, Wilson quickly got its offense rolling when Molly Huss reached first on a single. Sammy Parker scored Huss for the first of her three RBI.

“It was exciting, everyone loves to beat a rival,” Parker said. “We messed up in the fourth but got it together.”

Wilson added two more runs in the third inning, when Serena Rohrbaugh walked and Kristen Carden reached on a Gladiators infield error. After Carden and Rohrbaugh both stole, Parker sent them home with a double.

The Green Hornets did not allow a Gladiator to reach base until Kelly Tuennerman found a hole in the fourth inning for a single. Once Tuennerman found first, the Green Hornets’ defense began to slip.

Tuennerman reached second on a wild pitch and advanced when Brittany Dotson got on base with a single. Tuennerman scored on an infield error and, after a Katie Coffey single, Dotson was plated by another Hornets error to make the score 3-2 in Wilson’s favor.

In the fifth, Wilson got a little breathing room when Huss scored on a passed ball, but the Gladiators quickly shortened the gap when Morgan Lotts scored in the top of the sixth.

“I think they were trying so hard, and to get it over with they were going through the motions too fast,” Claytor said. “They were rushing things.”

With Wilson leading 4-3, the Green Hornets added two insurance runs in the home side of the sixth and put the Gladiators down in order to end the game.

Next week Wilson will play three games on the road in what Claytor called “hell week.” Wilson will travel to Buffalo Gap, Luray and Page County.

“This is the second round and everyone improves,” she said. “I just want the kids to play hard and be confident in the batter’s box.”