Wilson knocked out of tournament

By Robert Sisk

Published: May 28, 2008

FISHERSVILLE — Last year Buckingham was the team fighting its emotions while Wilson Memorial celebrated. On Wednesday afternoon, the roles reversed.
The Knights, knocked out of the Region B tournament last season by the Green Hornets, entered Wednesday’s semifinal round prepared for Wilson’s offensive attack and pitching ace, Summer Ramsey. One two-run inning earned the Knights some revenge, a 2-0 win and Group A tournament berth.
“I knew they had a good ball team because we came up last year and they beat us 3-1,” said Buckingham coach Randy Christian. “I felt like it would be a matter of who got the hit at the right time and who got the break. And that’s what happened.”
The Green Hornets watched their conquerors while sitting in the dirt around second base, hunched over as coach Maura Stout choked out coachspeak. The season was full of highs and lows, including a triumphant return to the No. 1 spot in the Shenandoah District with a playoff-game win over Page.
Before the season began a shadow was cast over the Green Hornets, their right fielder, Evanne Coffman, died in a car accident only weeks before opening day. A memorial sign with a white cross and a No. 8 stamped on the front stood in right field, a tribute to their fallen player.
After Stout finished her speech, the seniors, who played their last game, embraced as the rest of the team walked off the field to join family members.
“Can we sleep out here?” Leah Pagget asked.
“I would choose grass over dirt, but that’s just me,” Stout said. “We can get a tent. I got a tent.”
Stout said the group of five seniors poured the last four years of their life on the hard infield at Wilson Memorial.
“On Varsity in ninth-grade they put a lot of heart and sweat on this field,” Stout said. “It’s going to be hard for them.”
Ramsey started the first inning by striking out the side and remained perfect through the second. In the third the Knights were able to catch up the Ramsey’s throws.
“She’s different,” Christian said. “Altavista the other day was throwing 65 and was a lefthander too, so coming of that took a little while too.”
Buckingham’s Jessica Shumaker led off the inning with a bunt single and moved to second on a Lisa Lee single. Lindsey Alexander ripped a bloop single on a 0-2 count to right field to score Shumaker from second, but the ball took an awkward bounce and went by the Hornets’ Sammy Parker.
“We happened to get our two fastest runners on,” Christian said.
While Parker tried to track down the loose ball, Lee scored to give the Knights a 2-0 lead. Buckingham only recorded one more hit in the game.
“It’s about timing and when it comes together,” Stout said. “When it comes together it’s sweet, when it doesn’t, it’s sour and tastes really bad.”
Wilson had its chances to get on the scoreboard, but the Knights’ defense hammered down. In the fifth inning Wilson’s Carrie Mawyer reached second on an infield error. With two outs, Buckingham pitcher walked Amanda Bradley, but Mawyer tried to move third. Buckingham catcher Malika Davis made the throw and got the Knights out of the jam.
Knights pitcher Javannah Taylor took the win, allowing three hits and striking out six.
Stout said the Hornets had to adjust to Taylor.
“She’s a blue pitcher,” Stout said. “The fact that her catcher makes it look better than it is. When your blue tells you to prepare your batters and adjust that tells you something. When I have to tell my batters to stand an inch from the plate, there is something wrong with the calls, but you can’t blame the game on blue.”