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Eagles shut down by giddy Devilettes, 6-0
Charlie Padgett did not mind that Culpeper's softball team reveled in its Senior Day festivities. The fact that the merriment came at Liberty's expense irked the coach a bit, though.Culpeper rolled to a 6-0 win over LHS on Tuesday — continuing a miserable stretch of games where the Eagles (4-12 overall, 2-10 district) have gone 0-4 and been outscored 48-0.
In the final inning, the Devilette seniors decided to have a little fun, hiking their uniform pants up well above their waists. The gag left the Culpeper bench and crowd laughing.
The reaction differed in the opposing dugout.
"The last inning they pull their pants up, playing the Steve Urkel thing, having fun like we're nothing," Padgett said.
"I think they enjoyed (Senior Day), very much so," said Culpeper coach Janice Gillespie of her team. "And when you come out 6-0 there's not very much you can complain about."
As Gillespie pointed out, and for what it is worth, the Devilettes did appear more intent on celebrating their Senior Day than disrespecting Liberty.
But it was clear that no one seemed worried that Liberty was about to mount a serious rally.
LHS had given no reason to think otherwise. The Eagles have not scored a run since April 29, a span of four district games.
"My big hitters are getting cheated at the plate," Padgett said. "They paid all that money for that bat, and the sweet spot is not being used."
Liberty managed just four hits on Monday, striking out 11 times against Culpeper pitcher Nichole Beall.
That is, if nothing else, an improvement over the teams' meeting from April 17. Beall struck out 17 in a 2-0 road win that evening.
Still, no runs crossed the plate for Liberty on Monday — the team's fourth straight shutout and seventh on the year. The lack of offense worried Padgett more than the 48 runs allowed in the past week.
"To me, it's that we haven't scored any in four games," said Padgett when asked which problem was of greater concern. "We have to turn it around."
Making matters worse for Liberty lately is the continued absence of ace pitcher Lindi Wakefield, because of an injury.
Junior Tyler Ezzo started on the mound Monday.
She served up a leadoff homer to Beall in the bottom of the first, and allowed five runs in three innings. Classmate Billie Trussell spelled her, pitching the last three innings, giving up one run.
Liberty's defense had two errors, two wild pitches and a passed ball.
"The pitchers have got to throw strikes, the catcher's got to block it up, and the infield's got to make plays," Padgett said. "I don't think it's ever too late to fix anything, because things were working before."
LHS is the Senior Night visitor again on Friday, when the Eagles travel to Fauquier (8-9 overall, 2-9 district).
The Eagles lost their own senior night game, 6-0 on Monday to Stonewall Jackson.
"It would be nice to beat (Fauquier) at their home," Padgett said. "We got disappointed on our Senior Night, we need to break someone else's heart."
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