Greenbrier's seniors go out in style against rival

The final regular-season game at Greenbrier High School's softball field belonged to the seniors.

//

The Wolfpack beat rival Evans 5-0 on Wednesday behind strong pitching from senior Katie Tracy and the bat of fellow senior Kaila Hunt.

Tracy struck out 13 in the win. Hunt doubled on her first three at-bats.

"That's what seniors are supposed to do," Greenbrier coach Garrett Black said. "It's their time of year."

Greenbrier players sat behind home plate after the game, preparing to honor the seniors. The Wolfpack's seniors received flowers and balloons and stood at home plate while teammates read speeches about each of them.

Tracy was dominant during her final regular-season outing. She faced the minimum number of batters in all but two innings and allowed two hits and a walk.

"Whatever they weren't hitting, I was just throwing that," Tracy said.

After the game, Black first asked for a round of applause that no injuries were suffered. The Wolfpack lost multiple key players to injury during the season, but seem to have settled in as they prepare for the Region 2-AAAAA Tournament. Greenbrier opens tournament play Tuesday at Patriots Park.

The season-ending meeting with Evans, usually a close contest, was a rare comfortable victory for Greenbrier. The teams required nine innings when they met at Evans earlier this season.

"I usually get nervous (facing Evans)," Tracy said. "But I knew we had it after that (sixth) inning."

The Wolfpack lost all-state second baseman Ashlyn Masters for the season after she tore up her knee before the season started. Since then, the personnel losses have mounted.

The first time the teams met, Greenbrier third baseman Lauren Masters was lost for the season after injuring her shoulder.

Following a defensive shuffle, the Wolfpack seem to have found the right combination in the field. It begins with Tracy in the circle, which allows Savanah Coon, the Wolfpack's No. 2 pitcher, to play third.

"We like what we have, especially when Katie's on the mound," Black said. "We're pretty strong defensively. They've made adjustments all year long."

Evans has been without all-state pitcher Jenny Shepherd since early September when she underwent knee surgery. The Knights' senior was in the lineup Wednesday, but did not pitch.

The Wolfpack took advantage.

Greenbrier scored three runs in the third on five hits. Senior Marya Blackledge started the run with a single from the ninth spot. Rachel Nimmons followed with a base hit and Hunt drove in a run with her second double.

The Wolfpack added a run in each the fifth and sixth innings, the last coming on Nimmons' RBI triple.

Evans sophomore Brooke Sarver, who has pitched in Shepherd's absence, started for the Knights and struck out five. Greenbrier stuck to its strategy of trying to put the ball in play.

"We've been working on slugging, trying to put the ball in play and not strikeout," Hunt said. "We've done a lot better than in the past."