By Luke Nadkarni/Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
The Powhatan softball team defeated Fluvanna County by a score of 8-2 on Friday evening to claim the Jefferson District tournament championship, adding that trophy to their regular season title.
The game was even early on, with the Flucos scoring single runs in the first two innings against Powhatan’s normally stout defense. The Indians countered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, and the score stayed that way until Powhatan took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth.
“We made a couple of tentative plays early on,” Powhatan coach Marie Crump said. “I think the key was that we came back offensively.”
Pitcher Melissa Rundstrom started things off for the Indians with a double down the left field line. She was replaced on the basepaths by courtesy runner Valerie Fridley, who stole third on a passed ball two batters later. With runners on first and third following a walk, Jen Balcom drove in Fridley with a single to left field. After a walk to Sami Pierce loaded the bases, Rachael Shiflett was hit by a pitch, forcing in another run.
Powhatan tacked on another run in the fifth when Micah Kingston crossed home plate on a wild pitch, making the score 5-2. In the sixth, the Indians doubled their lead with some timely two-out production. A pair of infield singles sandwiched around a strikeout and a fielder’s choice put two runners on, and Kingston delivered the big blow with a triple to right field for a 7-2 lead. Rundstrom provided Powhatan’s final run of the game when she singled to right, driving in Kingston.
While Powhatan’s offense clicked, the Flucos managed just two hits the rest of the game after scoring two runs in the first two innings. Fluvanna went down in order in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
“Defense is what’s gotten us [to the championship].” Crump said.
Both teams have qualified for next week’s regional tournament, the Flucos by virtue of advancing to the district championship. Powhatan will host their first game, while Fluvanna will go on the road. Both teams’ opponents have yet to be determined.
