Orange County needed a boost after having to stew over a nine-run loss to Monticello High early last week.
They got it from Amanda Murphy’s bat.
The junior first baseman blasted a solo homerun to left centerfield in the second inning to open the door for Orange’s rebound win, a 4-1 victory over archrival Louisa County.
“(The home run) gave us a little lift — that girl (Louisa’s Brianna Cox) throws some nice pitches, she keeps the ball on the outside and I just told our batters to wait,” said Orange coach John Henry Ryder.
Orange built on the success of the homerun with a big third inning, ignited by Lindsey Bledose’s two-RBI double that followed up Aysha Richardson’s score on a passed ball. From there the Hornets leaned on Richardson’s work in the circle.
Richardson threw all seven innings, struck out 14 and gave up just one run, in the top of the sixth. The freshman kept the Lions off balance all night, settling down particularly well after giving up a pair of doubles in two different innings, one of them on the first at-bat of the game. It was particularly nerve-wracking night for Richardson, who grew up in Louisa County and knows most everyone on the Lions’ roster.
“It’s a tough time for her because she’s from Louisa, but I just told her just do the best you can and ask like it’s someone else you’re playing,” Ryder said. “She did a wonderful job.”
But Richardson shook off any early nerves and settled in. After the Lions scored the run in the sixth, the freshman locked them up with two straight strikeouts to end the inning. She then capped the game in the seventh by forcing two straight ground balls and a strikeout.
“When we started scoring more runs I felt more comfortable,” Richardson said. “It was hard at first because I was very nervous, but then I settled in.”
Kristen Anderson finished 2 for 3 for the Hornets, giving the offense a considerable boost.
Louisa County (5-1) lost its first Jefferson District contest, but managed to show some excellent defensive prowess that kept the Lions within striking distance. Hail Goad made a terrific stop and flip to first baseman Emily Walton in the first inning and Walton herself dug out a ball in the bottom of the second that prevented Orange from extending its lead out. Maria Seay was solid at shortstop, with several tough plays. But that comes as little surprise with coach Susan Sharpe at the helm.
“We know our pitcher is going to get hit, and I’m a defensive coach—I like to work on defense more than hitting so we spend a lot of time on it,” Sharpe said. “We’ve got 12 kids who come out and work hard and play together, and that’s why they can make that flip to first.”
The Lions couldn’t capitalize on the pair of doubles that should’ve set the table nicely, and the stranded runners were a big reason Orange managed to walk away with the win.
This Friday, Louisa takes on Charlottesville while Orange faces off against William Monroe, with both the Hornets and Lions hitting the road.
