Jones Hurls One-Hitter, Falcons Grab Title
SOUTH RIDING, VA - Sophomore Macy Jones fired her second straight one-hitter and struck out 15, and junior Alex Fierszt singled home the only run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the second as top-seeded Briar Woods edged third-seeded Park View 1-0 in the Dulles District Tournament championship game Thursday at Freedom High School in South Riding.
Briar Woods captured its second straight district tournament crown after edging the Patriots 4-3 in last year's title game. The Falcons improved to 19-2 overall and set a program record for wins in a season, surpassing last year's 18-5 finish.
Jones, who held Loudoun County to just one hit and set a school record with 18 strikeouts in a 3-0 win in Tuesday's district semifinals, was once again stellar in the circle. She limited the Patriots to just two base runners all evening on a two-out error in the first and a two-out single in the third.
Jones opened the game by striking out the first two Patriots before junior pitcher Robin Heironimus reached on an error. Jones was unfazed and struck out Rebecca Patton to end the inning.
The Falcons threatened in the bottom of the first when senior Holly Dominguez drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Kristina Karagiorgis. However, Heironimus got a flyout and a foul pop-up to end the inning.
After Jones struck out the side in the top of the second, the Falcon offense went back to work in the bottom of the inning. Junior Jillian Olson hit a one-out single and freshman Lynn Brantley followed with a grounder to second. The Patriots tried to get the force out of Olson at second, but the throw was high and wide for an error and gave the Falcons runners at first and second.
Senior Hayley Olson looked to advance both runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Heironimus pounced on Olson's attempt and fired to third to nab Jillian Olson for the second out.
Fierszt, who also drove in the winning run against Heironimus in last year's district tournament championship game, came through in the clutch again, dumping a single into right center field to plate Brantley with what proved to be the game's only run.
Park View had its best chance to score in the top of the third but came up empty. Sam Thomas rolled a two-out single up the middle just out of the reach of a diving Dominguez, and Thomas then stole second and took third on an error. However, Jones buckled down and got Sam Gleason to ground out to second to end the threat.
The Falcons continued to put the ball in play the rest of the game but couldn't increase their lead. Senior Kate Fowler looped a two-single in the third but was stranded when a ground out ended the inning. The Falcons also put two runners on in the sixth when junior Kasey Ball singled with two outs and Jillian Olson followed with a walk. However, Heironimus got Brantley to pop up to end the inning.
Jones had to face the heart of the Patriot order in the top of the seventh and came through impressively. She got Heironimus on a foul pop-up to Olson behind the plate and then fanned Patton and Brittany Griffin to end the game.
Heironimus took the loss despite a fine effort in the circle for the Patriots, allowing one unearned run and scattering four hits. She struck out three and walked two.
Both Briar Woods and Park View will represent the Dulles District in next week's Region II Tournament.
The Falcons, the region's second seed, will host Northwestern District runner-up Skyline in the quarterfinals Monday at 4 p.m. The Patriots will travel to Northwestern District champion Sherando Monday.
