Richmond Tournament (Apr 21)

Patriots, Morrison untouchable in Sports-Plus Classic

The Park View Patriots softball team traveled to Richmond last Saturday, April 21, for the Sports-Plus Softball Classic. In a round robin format, they were crowned tournament champions by virtue of their 3-0 record and not allowing any runs.

Patriots' pitcher Karie Morrison was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. She pitched a perfect game against Albemarle and only surrendered five hits while striking out 33 batters in 19 innings in three games. Also, Morrison added a two-run home run in the closing game.

The opening game against the Western Branch Bruins (Chesapeake, Va.) was a classic of its' own. Both teams struggled to find some offense while both defenses came up with crucial run stopping plays. This was a game that would be won by the team that got the first break. This break came in the bottom of the seventh inning of a scoreless contest. Park View's Veronica Skinner led off with a double to left field. Speedster, Megan Watson, replaced Skinner at second base and was sacrificed over to third by Caitlin Trask. Ashley Shifflett bunted her way on and after a pop up, the Patriots had runners on third and second with two outs. Then, the Bruins' pitcher, who had pitched so well, gave in with a wild pitch allowing Watson to score the winning run in this hard fought 1-0 victory.

The Bruins had threatened in the fifth inning when a batter tried to stretch a hit to the fence into a home run. A fantastic relay by Ashley Shifflett to Veronica Skinner to Kim Patton nicked the runner at the plate securing the victory.

Morrison was perfect in the second game against Albemarle (Charlottesville, Va.). She faced the minimum of 21 batters, allowed no runner to reach base and had 14 strikeouts. This was Morrisson's first perfect game this season and she has yet to allow an earned run in eight games. Jennifer Forsythe, Skinner, and Sheryl Wilson provided the big hits in the 5-0 victory.

The final game of the day for the Patriots was an 8-0 victory over Cave Spring Knights (Roanoke, Va.). The contest, however, was shortened to 4 1/2 innings due to the tournaments runs-ahead rule. Morrison was again brilliant on the mound. After giving up a first inning single, she retired the last 14 batters in a row. The Patriots jumped on the Knights in the first inning. Kristen Miller and Jennifer Forsythe had consecutive singles followed by a big double to left by Morrison. A walk to Megan Smith and consecutive errors on two hard hit balls by Skinner and Wilson closed out the score, 4-0, after one inning.

Miller again led off with a hit and could have walked around the bases following a crushing home run by Morrison. Park View closed the scoring in the fourth with big hits by Smith and Skinner. Miller and Forsythe led the offensive attack in the three-game tourney with four hits and three runs scored each. Skinner was close behind with three hits and two runs scored. Also providing big hits were Morrison, Megan Smith, Wilson, Caitlin Trask and Shifflett.