Sims Blasts Spartans Past Briar Woods 10-2
The Broad Run Spartans improved to 11-2 and remained undefeated in the Dulles District with a 10-2 win over Briar Woods. Haley Johnson and Kate Sims helped lead the way for the Spartans in the win.
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Broad Run's Megan Waterman races toward first, but is thrown out by Briar Woods third baseman Caitlin Blalock...
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Briar Woods pitcher Kate Fowler hurls a softball to the plate in Monday's game against Broad Run. Fowler gave up 10 hits on the night, but just 2 earned runs...
Photo By: Marc Gold / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
BRAMBLETON, VA - Since 2006, the series between Broad Run and Briar Woods in softball has been far from anything but a one-sided affair. For 5 innings on Monday night, the Falcons looked poised to take the team they had never scored against to the wire. But all of that changed when freshman sensation Kate Sims exploded for 6 RBI's in her last 3 at bats to lead Broad Run past Briar Woods 10-2.
The game was scoreless through the first three innings with both teams struggling to hit the pitching of Broad Run's Judy Betz, and Briar Woods' Kate Fowler. The Spartans threatened in the second inning when Anna Blessing and Jenny Kramer reached base, but left fielder Alba Creus grounded out to first base, leaving both on the bases to end the inning.
Creus would avenge that missed opportunity in the 4th inning though, tagging a single down the right field line that scored Blessing to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. With a one run lead, senior Judy Betz settled in on the mound for Broad Run, getting Falcon freshman Macy Jones out on a come-backer, and then striking out Caitlin Blalock and Kasey Ball to end the inning.
In the top of the 5th inning, Broad Run added another run when freshman Kate Sims hit a sacrifice fly to left field. The ball was hit hard, and was a sign of things to come in the later innings from Sims.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, Falcon Kate Fowler singled to left field to give Briar Woods a base runner with nobody out, but Betz hunkered down and retired the next 3 hitters to end the side.
In the top of the 6th inning, the game changed when the Falcons started walking Broad Run hitters. Four straight walks to Jennie Himler, Alba Creus, Megan Waterman, and Maggie Betz increased the Spartan lead to 3-0.
Catcher Haley Johnson then stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, and delivered a single that scored two to increase the Broad Run lead to 5-0.
After first baseman Jen Soroka flew out to right field for the first out of the inning, Sims ignited the Spartan bleachers with a line drive 3-run blast that cleared the left field wall easily.
The home run was not a surprise to Broad Run head coach Ed Steele, who even before the game was already bragging about his freshman right fielder.
"She's the real deal," Steele said. "She is going to be something special."
Steele's quote might have been the understatement of the year. The 9th grader's blast gave Broad Run an 8-0 lead, and much more cushion than they needed to secure the win.
Entering Tuesday's contest with Broad Run, Briar Woods had been outscored in ten meetings 154-0. So, what happened in the bottom of the 6th inning was an important milestone.
Freshman Macy Jones ripped a two out double to left centerfield, and then later scored on an error off the bat of Caitlin Blalock. The Falcons finally graced the scoreboard against the Spartans, but after 6 innings the score was 8-1.
In the top of the 7th inning, Sims struck again, lacing a double down the left field line that scored Soroka and Johnson. Sims' 2-RBI double gave Broad Run a double digit run total for the 8th time in 11 meetings with the Falcons.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Lady Falcons refused to go down quietly. Fowler led off with a double to left field, and then scored on a Claire Bayles single to right field to make the score 10-2.
In the end, Broad Run's Judy Betz was strong on the mound, striking out 5 Falcon hitters, and scattering 7 hits in the win.
Fowler (7-3), who pitched most of the game for Briar Woods, gave up 10 hits and just two earned runs in the loss. Jones surrendered six runs on two hits and four walks in 1/3 of an inning for the Falcons.
With the win, Broad Run remained perfect in the Dulles District, improving to 9-0 this season, and 11-2 overall.
For Broad Run's Kate Sims, Monday's 6 RBI performance on live radio and in front of the Gameday cameras couldn't have been timed better.
"I was kind of nervous hitting off of Macy for the first time, so I went up there and relaxed," said Sims. "I just try not to get nervous and play the best I can."
"She's an outstanding player," Steele said. "She doesn't think, she just reacts, and she certainly has the skill."
Steele also said he was equally impressed with his pitcher Judy Betz and her performance.
"I don't know how many people know it, but she's sort of an advertisement for Super Glue. She has an elbow scar that is about 10 inches long, and she has a big bruise that she got on Saturday night, and her back is really bad. She sort of hobbles out and hobbles off," Steele said. "It's all you can ask of a kid, and she just gives it 100%. Tonight it all worked out in her favor, and I'm just hoping as we go toward the playoffs she can get healthy and enjoy pitching."
BEST BUY PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
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Kate Sims - Broad Run Outfielder
Sims, just a freshman, had a career performance finishing 2 for 4 with 6 RBI's on the night. She had a sacrifice fly to left that scored a run, and then sent a fastball over the left field fence in the 6th inning with two runners on. In the 7th inning, Sims doubled to left field to drive in another two runs, and Broad Run cruised to a 10-2 victory.
Caitlin Blalock - Briar Woods 3rd Baseman
Blalock was Ms Automatic at third base on Monday night for the Falcons. Blalock finished the night with 7 assists and 3 putouts, including an unassisted double play to end the 5th inning. On that play, Blalock snared a line drive and then dove back to beat Haley Johnson to third base for the double play.
GAME NOTES:
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Reagan Doiron's Return Close?
Broad Run softball fans have been waiting patiently on senior Reagan Doiron's broken foot to heal. On Monday, head coach Ed Steele addressed his slugger's prospects of returning to the lineup soon.
"The doctor is going to look at her on Thursday and we'll see," Steele said. "She had three broken bones so it is not guaranteed she will be back, but we are hoping she can get back by the playoffs. Not only is she a great player, but she is a spark plug, and when she is out there she just makes plays."
Steele's Sizes Up His 2009 Spartans Thus Far:
"I'd say we are as good as anyone in the state if we are healthy, and we are also young, so we make a lot of mistakes," Steele said. "If they play like they did tonight, they could go out there and do it, but we have to play well every night in the playoffs, and that is hard to predict."
THE LEADERBOARD:
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Broad Run Spartans:
Megan Waterman - 1 for 4 (Single, Run Scored)
Maggie Betz - 1 for 4 (Single, Run Scored)
Haley Johnson - 2 for 3 (2 RBI's, Sacrifice, Run Scored)
Jen Soroka - 1 for 3 (Single, 2 Walks)
Kate Sims - 2 for 4 (Sac Fly, Home Run, Double, 6 RBI's)
Anna Blessing - 3 for 4 (3 Singles)
Jenny Kramer - 1 for 4 (Single)
Jennie Himler - (Run Scored, 2 Walks)
Alba Creus - 1 for 2 (Single, RBI, Run Scored)
Briar Woods Falcons:
Holly Dominguez - (0 for 3)
Kristina Karagiorgis - (0 for 3)
Macy Jones - 1 for 3 (Double, Run Scored)
Caitlin Blalock - 1 for 3 (Single)
Kasey Ball - 1 for 3 (Single)
Kate Fowler - 2 for 2 (Single, Double, Run Scored)
Jillian Olson - (0 for 3)
Claire Bayles - 2 for 3 (RBI Single)
Alex Fierszt - 0 for 3
COACH HAYES' ANALYSIS:
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For the past two seasons, I have been present in the booth calling the state championship games for the Lady Spartans. In those amazing seasons, the Spartans were dominant in every aspect, but especially on the mound with former great Caitlyn Delahaba. So Monday's contest with Briar Woods was especially intriguing to me because it was the first time I have called a Broad Run game this season, or what I call LAD (Life After Delahaba).
When people discuss the national champions from a year ago, they always talk about the pitcher, but few remember that Broad Run torched one of the state's best pitchers (Brittany Arn) from Tunstall for 8 runs in the title game. And that leads me to my point.
If Broad Run can get run production like they did from players like Sims, Blessing, and Creus, they could be the favorite again this June in Group AA. If Doiron gets back in the lineup, I'm not sure there is a pitcher in the state that can hold the Spartans down, but that remains to be seen.
Betz isn't healthy, but she is still better than most in the area on the mound while playing at less than 100%. If she gets healthy, look out. Her fastball is strong, and she has a deadly change-up that keeps hitters off balance.
Steele's Spartans are clearly still the best in the Dulles District, and should advance to the regional finals again this spring. What's scary is Broad Run is winning and sits 11-2 (9-0) without their stars being healthy. That isn't a good sign for the rest of the state, because it appears that the Lady Spartans may be finally getting right, just in time to make a run at a three-peat.
For Briar Woods, Monday's score wasn't a good representation of how well the Falcons actually played. Their defense was excellent for most of the game, with Blalock stealing the spotlight at the hot corner. Fowler and Jones weren't dominating on the mound, but they were effective until the late innings.
Coach Traina has the Briar Woods program on the rise, and it won't be too long before a game against the Spartans could be 1-0 or 2-1 with the Falcons winning their share. Look for Briar Woods to continue to get better and better.
