Crowded at the top

By Bill Meade Correspondent
Published: May 14, 2008

FISHERSVILLE — Wilson Memorial’s road to the regular season Shenandoah District title was blocked by Page County Wednesday afternoon as the Panthers blanked the Green Hornets 7-0 to set up a three-way tie for the top spot with Page and Luray.
After edging Luray 1-0 the day before, Wilson’s championship destiny lay in its own hands.
But the Panthers, using stellar defense and aggressive offense, prevented Wilson from taking the title outright.
The Panthers’ victory set up a playoff game today with Luray, while Wilson, which drew the bye for the tiebreaker at the beginning of the season, awaits today’s winner with a second playoff game to be held Friday at a neutral field, weather permitting.
Page implemented its small ball strategy to perfection to pick up the big win, handing Wilson just its second defeat of the season.
“We brought a lot more attitude and drive today than the first game against them,” said Page sophomore shortstop Brittany Wolfe.
In the first inning, Megan Viafora led off with a walk. Rachel Breeden followed with a bunt single and both runners advanced a base on a Wilson error.
Viafora scored on a ground out and Wolfe’s sacrifice bunt brought Breeden home.
The visitors scored twice more in the third on RBI-singles by Viafora and Breeden.
Sophomore Kristy McDaniel kept most of the Hornets off the basepaths and the Panthers defense made all the right plays behind her.
“The difference today was that when we played them before, they didn’t hit,” said Wilson coach Maura Stout. “Today they really hit the ball.”
Page rallied for three more runs in the top of the fifth.
Again, the Panthers used the bunt to their advantage. Viafora singled again and Breeden bunted her up a base. A double steal put runners on second and third and Sara Jenkins brought in one run with a ground out. An infield single by Wolfe drove in another run, and Rebecca Breeden’s swinging bunt also fell in for a hit and brought in the final run of the game.
“We hit OK, but we hit a lot right to them,” Stout said.
Wilson senior pitcher Summer Ramsey struck out four hitters in going the distance, but the Hornets could only muster a pair of hits for the game.