Tuesday night, every out Monticello got came on a strikeout. All 21 of them in a seven inning game. Funny thing is, the player that was ringing up those Orange County batters — Monticello’s Victoria Scott — probably didn’t realize it.
“A lot of times when we tell her the stats the next day at practice she has no idea,” said Monticello coach Beth Humphrey. “She’s like ‘Really?’ And we’re like, ‘uh, yeah, didn’t you see a lot of people just kind of going back to the dugout?’”
Scott surrendered just a single run to the Hornets in a 10-1 victory for the Mustangs, cruising through most innings after getting a big lift from her teammates with an early offensive pop. It was a critical victory for Monticello and Scott, the reigning Jefferson District player of the year, as the two teams battled it out last year for the Jefferson District crown.
“Beating Orange is a top priority in our district and it’s just a good step,” said Monticello’s Brittany Via.
Last year in the JD championship, Monticello fell 1-0 to the Hornets and only mustered a single hit. They had no such problem Tuesday, with Via igniting the offense with a 2 for 4, three RBI performance. Lydia Neuroth and freshman Amber Dillow also had multiple-hit nights, with Neuroth going 2-for-3 and Dillow going 3-for-5.
Monticello (8-0, 3-0 Jefferson) jumped out early against Kristen Anderson, one of two freshman pitchers manning the circle for the Hornets in the absence of injured junior Micalah Sacre. Anderson, a strong third baseman, gave way to classmate Aysha Richardson, but Monticello managed to continue scratching out runs. In the bottom of the fourth, Monticello pushed their advantage to 9-1 on an RBI single by Neuroth and a passed ball that allowed Kaitlyn Bodine to score.
The Hornets (4-1, 2-1 Jefferson) are relying on a lot of young but dynamic talent, and they should improve as the year goes along. Orange has four freshmen and three sophomores on the varsity roster, and they’re playing a lot of innings.
Monticello, on the other hand, is stocked with seniors, many of whom have been through some critical games over the last couple of years as the Mustangs have asserted themselves as a force in the Jefferson. All five seniors are captains, including Via who gives Monticello a seasoned veteran at first base.
“She’s my captain on the field—she calls bunt rotations while I worry about what the outfield is doing,” Humphrey said. “She just takes over, she makes sure everyone knows the situation and it just makes my job a little bit easier.”
After a short break, the Mustangs travel to Goochland next Tuesday to take on the Bulldogs at 5 p.m. Orange battles another unbeaten opponent, Louisa County, the same day.
