by John Rodock – Special to the News-Press
Julia Ferris tossed a one-hitter as Antonio Bravo’s Mustangs picked up their second straight district win, 1-0 over Strasburg on Saturday, May 14. After enduring an unprecedented string of rainouts that spanned two weeks.
Mason had finally gotten back into action on May 10, defeating Rappahannock County 16-6. Then they brought their record back to even on the year at 7-7 against the Rams, avenging an earlier one-run defeat.
Under threatening skies in scenic Strasburg, Jules Carter (.409 OBP) led the game off by walking, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tea Abbracciamento, advanced to third when Ferris’s grounder was misplayed by the Rams’ third baseman and scored when Jenna Short picked up her 12th RBI of the season on a squeeze bunt.
Ferris (ten Ks, one walk) struck out the side in the bottom of the first, after which rain fell continuously for the duration of the game.
The Rams only serious scoring threat came in the bottom of the second, when an error and a single put runners on the corners with one out, but a strikeout and a grounder to first baseman Rebecca Davis left Ferris (season 80 IP, 1.038 WHIP, 105 Ks, 15 BB) unscathed.
The Rams’ Carey Scott was superb on the mound, allowing only five baserunners. The Mustangs managed only two hits, singles by their two freshmen, Chelsea Lang (.262 BA, 12 RBI) in the fourth and Sabrina Rodock (.280 BA) in the fifth.
After Lang’s single, Davis ripped a liner that looked like a sure RBI double until Strasburg center fielder Hannah Alexander made a lunging catch and doubled Lang off first.
As the rain intensified, field conditions deteriorated quickly. Infielders spun their wheels in mud and outfielders squinted to locate balls through the veil of precipitation. The grounds crew dumped sand and raked in the hopes of avoiding a fourth postponement of this contest.
But somehow the dueling pitchers continued to throw strikes with wet balls, and retire batters. Ferris fanned the side in the bottom of the fifth, at which point the game had become official and was called to an end by the umpire crew.
The Mustangs played William Monroe High School on Tuesday, May 17 and Madison County High School on Wednesday, May 18, but results of the matches were not available at press time. The Mustangs play Central High School on Thursday, May 19 and Clarke County High School on Friday, May 20.
