Debs reach final four in state
Published 12:19 pm Wednesday, July 19, 2017
- Riley Jones has been part of a trio of pitchers who have helped fuel the LGS Debs All-Star team’s success in the state tournament. Photo by Farrah Schmidt
The Lunenburg Girls’ Softball (LGS) Debs All-Star team has navigated the 10-team State Dixie Softball Debs All-Star Tournament in Sutherland and made it to the final four.
After opening with a loss Friday against the Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association (PEFYA) All-Star team, the LGS Debs won three straight, setting up a rematch with undefeated PEFYA on Tuesday at 6 p.m. With a win, Lunenburg would get a bye Wednesday and play Thursday at 6 p.m.
“The team has done very, very well,” LGS Debs Manager Tony Matthews said. “Some members have hit very well, and my three pitchers have been doing great.”
The pitchers include Riley Jones, Ellie Richmond and Lydia Wrenn.
In a back-and-forth contest against the Crewe-Burkeville All-Stars on Monday, Lunenburg came back from a 9-7 deficit with some heroic hitting.
Taylor Berkley recorded a base hit, Kayla Anthony tripled, Samantha Matthews got a base hit driving in Anthony and then Wrenn hit a walk-off two-run home run for the 11-9 victory.
Manager Matthews said that Kaylee Williams has routinely provided defensive highlights in center field worthy of SportsCenter, saving runs with athletic catches.
The LGS Debs defeated the Dinwiddie All-Star team 2-0 on Sunday.
“That was pretty much a pitchers duel,” Matthews said. “Ellie Richmond pitched six innings of shutout ball.”
Williams, in the outfield, Anthony, at catcher, and Brittany Dolan, at first base, backed up Richmond with outstanding defense.
Richmond and Berkley scored the game’s only runs with Berkley and Williams each accounting for an RBI.
On Saturday, Lunenburg defeated the Rustburg All-Stars 8-2.
“That game was pretty much a collective effort by everybody,” Matthews said.
Wrenn pitched the entire game, throwing five strikeouts and holding Rustburg to two runs in the first inning.
Williams scored twice and Anthony scored once.
In Friday’s 9-3 loss to PEFYA, the LGS Debs left 10 runners on base.
“We made four errors in the first inning and gave up five runs,” Matthews said. “That was the tell-tale sign. That was not a good way to start our tournament, but that’s how we started it.”
He noted that craftier play at the plate was the goal going into the rematch with Prince Edward-Farmville.
