TCIS softball: Shaky Nansemond-Suffolk gains semifinals; perfect game for Greenbrier's Lane

SUFFOLK

For five innings of Tuesday’s TCIS first-round matchup against Norfolk Christian, the Nansemond-Suffolk softball team played the kind of game Saints coach Kathleen Hotte is convinced is good enough to compete with TCIS dynasty Greenbrier Christian.

Third-seeded Nansemond-Suffolk demonstrated lusty hitting, stout defense and overpowering pitching while racing to an eight-run lead.

Then the Saints nearly threw it all away in the sixth inning. Four errors, two walks and three wild pitches/passed balls allowed the sixth-seeded Ambassadors to score six runs and make a contest of what had been a rout.

Fortunately for Nansemond-Suffolk, it was a one-inning lapse and the home team escaped with an 8-6 victory.

”I told the kids after the game, ‘It’s tournament time, this is what we’ve worked for all year,’ “ said Hotte, whose team (12-5) advanced to a semifinal meeting with the winner of the Walsingham-Peninsula Catholic game on Thursday at Greenbrier Christian. “We have to stop playing like this.”

“It was very frustrating,” said N-SA pitcher Kelsey Ritter, who pitched a two-hitter and struck out 10. “With us there always seems to be one bad inning. Or a game where things just don’t go well.”

Early on, Tuesday’s game didn’t look like that. Ritter held Norfolk Christian (5-9) hitless through five and knocked in half of Nansemond-Suffolk’s eight runs with a solo homer, a two-run double and an RBI single.

About the only nit to pick was Ritter’s control as she walked three batters in the first three innings.

”I’ve got to get better at my pitching,” she said. “Too many walks and pitches in the dirt.”

It was actually a walk to Mary DiGeronimo that started N-SA’s nightmarish sixth inning. Kelli Sauls followed with Norfolk Christian’s first hit – a clean single between short and third. Then the Saints fell apart, committing four throwing errors that not only put runners on base, but allowed them extra bases while defenders chased down the ball.

“It’s all about focus,” said Hotte. “I think we got a little content with what was going on out there. We work on throwing every day. It’s a fundamental part of the game.”

Part of Nansemond-Suffolk’s lack of focus might have been attributed to the 16-4 licking the Saints put on the Ambassadors earlier in the season.

”Yeah,” said Ritter. “But we should know you can’t be cocky. Anything can happen in a game.”

The Saints had enough offense to save them this time. Brittany Wilkins and Katherine Blanks each had two hits for the winners, who banged out 12 hits in all.

Nansemond-Suffolk 8, Norfolk Christian 6 Norfolk Christian 000 006 0 – 6 2 2 Nansemond-Suffolk 013 040 x – 8 12 4 WP – Ritter. LP – Reiss. HR – NSA, Ritter.

Greenbrier Christian 17, Bishop Sullivan 0 Brittany Lane fanned eight and tossed a perfect game for the top-seeded Gators, who will face Norfolk Academy Thursday in the semifinals at Greenbrier.