Tunstall softball team wins; heads to finals

Media General News Service
Published: June 6, 2008

Tunstall vs. Poquoson
Group AA state semifinals
at Radford
Start time: 10 a.m.

Hello to all of the Tunstall fans tuning in for this one, this is Matt Fuchs high atop the press box at Radford University’s softball field. Poquoson is just finishing up their infield practice, and game time is just a few minutes away. I’ll be keeping you up to date with the score as the Trojans continue their march toward what they hope will be Roger Cook’s first state championship.
And speaking of Cook, a few minutes ago he had some words of advice for his players. Amongst other things he reminded them that this was the game they have been working toward all season, ever since last year’s state semifinal loss. But Cook also had a word of caution.
“Don’t be happy with getting here,” he said. “Be happy with staying here.”

First inning: Well, the first inning is in the book, and this game has all the makings of a pitcher’s duel. Poquoson’s Star Gibbs worked quickly in the top half, retiring the side on eight pitches while striking out one. Tunstall’s Brittany Arnn was also impressive in her half of the inning, striking out one, and only surrendering a bloop single over a drawn in Trojans defense. Tunstall 0, Poquoson 0.

Second inning: Gibbs picked up right where she left off in the previous inning, striking out two and inducing a groundout on a total of 10 pitches. Perhaps more telling, she has been flawless against the heart of Tunstall’s order, as the Trojans’ No. 3 through No. 5 hitters have all gone down on strikeouts.
In the home half of the inning the Islanders gave rise to a bit of controversy. After a single by Poquoson’s Catherine Clavin to open the inning, a Nichole Windham grounder to second sent umpires scrambling for their rule books.
Clavin tripped over Tunstall’s Jenna Rudder as she fielded the ball and both were initially called out after the throw to first beat Windham to the bag. Windham was ruled out by interference. However, the Islanders disputed the call, saying that the umpires had called the play dead, and as such, it should not be a double play.
Much debating and nearly 20 minutes later the official decision was that Clavin did not intentionally try to break up the double play, and Windham was granted first base courtesy of a fielder’s choice. Clavin was ruled out.
The Islanders’ next two batters went down in order. Much ado about nothing. Tunstall 0, Poquoson 0.

Third inning: Thanks to Megan Dillon the Tunstall Trojans are no longer hitless. Dillon hit a single to center field to lead off the top of the third, but a variety of Poquoson defensive stops ended Tunstall’s threat right there.
Not to be outdone, Arnn set the Islanders down in order in the bottom half of the inning, picking up her second and third strikouts of the game in the process. Tunstall 0, Poquoson 0.

Fourth inning:The Trojans went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth to continue the scoreless trend. But Arnn did give a Gibbs pitch a ride deep to centerfield, albeit for a fly out, but also for the second hard hit against the Islanders pitcher. Rudder had previously lined a shot to the Poquoson left fielder’s glove to end the previous inning. Now, if the Trojans can start finding the gaps with those knocks, they may be in business offensively.
And then in the bottom half of the inning, we have Runnergate Part II. After a walk and two straight singles, the Islanders were sitting pretty with the bases loaded and only one out on the board. Arnn bought some breathing room with a strikout, but then a bobbled grounder by Sarah Smith appeared to let the first run of the game score from third.
Not so fast.
It was ruled that Smith only bobbled the ball because she was hit from behind by a runner going to third. The Poquoson runner in question? You guessed it ... Catherine Clavin. No run scored and the inning was over. Let the scoring drought continue. Tunstall 0, Poquoson 0.

Fifth inning: And the lucky breaks continue for Tunstall defensively. With a runner threatening on third, and two outs on the board, an Arnn pitch in the dirt ended up clipping Poquoson’s Kayla Renn on the foot before bouncing back to the backstop. Had Renn not been hit by the pitch, the best name in the game, Page Turner would have scored easily from third. Tunstall 0, Poquoson 0.

Sixth inning:And the drought is over. With a two-out hit to left field, Tunstall’s Heather Francisco bought Rudder just enough room to score from second—beating out the tag at home by an eyelash. Building off that momentum, Arnn then drove a double into the gap in right center to score Francisco for a 2-0 lead.
The Islanders went quietly in the bottom half of the inning. And, with Poquoson’s No. 7-9 hitters coming up in the seventh, the Trojans have to be liking their chances. Tunstall 2, Poquoson 0.

Seventh inning:The Trojans didn’t do anything offensively in the top half of the inning. But then again, Tunstall didn’t have to either. Two Islanders groundouts and a strikout looking ended Poquoson’s playoff push. Tunstall will be playing for the title tomorrow at 1 p.m.  Tunstall wins 2-0.
Tomorrow the Trojans will continue to chase the Group AA championship.