Monday, Mar. 08, 2010

Wildcats persevere

West Johnston needs nine innings to top South, 5-4.

Just one week into the high school softball season and both South Johnston and West Johnston already had one game apiece postponed due to rain. As the two met Saturday on a wonderfully dry and sunny day, the two teams appeared as though they wanted to make up for some lost time on the diamond.

Seven innings were not enough to decide the winner as the Wildcats nipped the Trojans in nine innings, 5-4.

Amber West's double in the top of the ninth inning drove home Marisa Hackney with the go-ahead run for West. Megan Gibbons then took care of the Trojans in the bottom of the ninth, getting Taylor Barbour to line out with the tying run on second base to earn the victory.

"If it could happen, it happened," said West Johnston coach Wayne Collins. "Either team could have been on the winning end. We were just fortunate that we scored last. It was a good test and a great game."

The two teams battled back and forth all game long. There were four lead changes and the contest had more of the feel of two heavyweights in midseason form rather than an early-season affair.

To send the game into extra innings, South Johnston rallied in the bottom of the seventh thanks to sophomore Whitney Williams' timely hitting and base running. With one out, the sophomore first baseman doubled to put herself in scoring position. She then took third base when the catcher's return throw to the mound got by pitcher Alexis Betancourt. As Williams headed for third base, another throwing error allowed Williams to trot home to tie the game.

"I'm very proud of our team," said South coach Mickey Bridgers. "We battled, we made mistakes but it's just the second game of the season. If we play at that level, we'll be a very competitive team."

Both starting pitchers put together quality starts for their respective squads. Betancourt was effective for the Wildcats, striking out 11 and scattering eight hits over seven innings before Gibbons pitched the final two scoreless innings.

For the Trojans, Kaitlyn Barbour went five innings, giving up just two earned runs (four total).

Casey Barbour finished the game for South, going the final four innings, giving up just the one run on three hits.

Kristen Partin collected three base hits on the day, while Gibbons' two-run home run in the fifth inning gave West the lead until the bottom of the seventh.

Mariah Barefoot and Katlyn Johnson each had two-hit games for South (1-1) as the Trojans entered this week with a 1-1 record. South Johnston defeated Clayton 10-0 in its season opener. Casey Barbour and Kaitlyn Barbour combined on a two-hit shutout in the six-inning win.

This Saturday, South Johnston visits West Johnston (2-0). The Wildcats will also meet fellow Greater Neuse River Conference power Garner on Friday.