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By Kyle Gotimer
LoCoSports Assistant Editor
Leesburg (May 21, 2015) – Tuscarora High School sophomore outfielder Jules Carter hit a three-RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth to secure her team’s 13-1 victory over the Freedom High School Eagles in a Conference 14 quarterfinal on May 20.
“We need to string some hits together, generate some runs like we know how to and hopefully good things will happen,” Tuscarora head coach Megan Smith said.
In the top of the first inning, Tuscarora junior pitcher Jena Calvitti struck out the side to escape a second and third jam. In the bottom half, Freedom sophomore pitcher Cheyenne Van Pelt escaped the same situation: striking out two and inducing a pop-out to the shortstop.
“We always talk about three things that we’ve got to put together,” Smith said. “We’ve got to play good defense, we’ve got to have good pitching and we’ve got to have our bats.”
Tuscarora sent ten batters to the plate in the second, scoring five runs, including senior outfielder Kate Avdellas who hit a one-out double to plate two. The Huskies’ offense continued to score adding one more in the third and six more in the fourth including Carter’s bases clearing triple.
“When we get momentum going, when the top of our line up gets on base, good things happen for us,” Smith said. “We’re a team force and everything has to work together for us to be successful so stringing some hits together is big momentum.”
With the offense momentum, Calvitti hit a groove and cruised through the Eagles’ order twice. Freedom managed to score their lone, unearned run in the top of the fifth.
“She worked ahead of batters, really attacked the strike zone and had a defense behind her,” Smith said. “When that all comes together it’s great.”
After starting their playoffs with a big win, the Huskies have to prepare for their Conference 14 semifinal against No. 1 Broad Run High School in Ashburn on Friday, May 22.
“I’m proud of the way they’re starting the season fresh in the playoffs,” Smith said. “We didn’t necessarily have our best regular season, but we’re ready to wipe the slate clean and hopefully make a run here.”
Offensively:
Tuscarora
Pellegrino 2-4, 2 ROE, 2 R, RBI
Carter 1-2, 2 BB, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI
Avdellas 1-2, 2 BB, R, 2 RBI
Deelsnyder 0-3, ROE, SB
Adler 1-3, 2B, R, RBI
Russell 1-2, BB, R, RBI
Berg 2-3, 2 R, RBI
Ford 0-3, R
Monahan 0-0, sac bunt, 2 BB, 3 R
Freedom
Cresci 1-2, BB, R
Pitz 1-3
Novak 1-2, HBP
Wrigley 0-3
Mawyer 0-2
Roper 0-1, BB
Van Pelt 0-2
Haymore 0-2
Adams 0-2
Pitching:
Tuscarora
Calvitti W 5 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 8 K
Freedom
Van Pelt L 4 IP, 13 R, 12 ER, 8 H, 7 BB, 3 K
Kyle Gotimer is a sophomore at Heritage High School in Leesburg. Follow LoCoSports on Twitter (@LoCoSports) for up-to-date news and scores from around Loudoun County.
