by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
A picture is worth a 1,000 words. But this video of Prince George’s clinching out is worth a few as well.
Look at pitcher Lauren Vinson, No. 13.
Tired, exhausted, fatigued, worn out, she was all of it, having no energy to celebrate Prince George’s first Central Region softball crown since 1979.
Rightfully so. Vinson pitched 21 innings – 14 in a 2-1 semifinal win over Cosby earlier in the semifinal (she scored the winning run), seven in a 3-2 title clincher over Atlee – Saturday, with 18 total strikeouts.
The sun beat her forest green and black uniform to a pulp, so much that she had to get cold towels draped over her body during the championship game.
She told coaches to get Maggie Roberts warmed up in case, but there’s was no way Vinson wouldn’t finish the game for longtime coach Pat Waguespack.
“I’m used to the whole one-game routine,” said Vinson, a travel softball standout who can throw double-digit innings with ease then. “Getting your rest, two or three days between. It was just a lot to handle.”
Katie Christopher handled an Atlee pitch in the sixth and sent it to right. An error allowed the ball to roll to the wall and Christopher rolled to third.
Pinch-runner Adrianna Cook scored minutes later on Aidan O’Hare‘s groundout as Prince George led 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning.
Then Atlee first baseman Randi Farrar got a hold of a Vinson offering, hitting a solo home run to tie the contest at 2.
PG responded quickly as Ashley Lowe hit a blooper to right. Pinch runner Charmaine Thweatt came in and immediately reached second on a passed ball.
Vinson hit a shot to second that was handled, but overthrown to first allowing the speedy Thweatt to score the game-winner, as the Raiders had six errors at Hanover High.
“I’m always put in at the last minute to get the extra run,” Thweatt said. “So it made me feel better.”
Let’s hope Vinson feels better. The sensational junior couldn’t really remember much from the semifinal win after the contest.
No matter, her performance speaks for itself.
Prince George will host Northern Region runner-up Centreville Tuesday in the state Group AAA quarterfinals. Atlee will visit Northern champ South County.
Title Game
Prince George 010 001 1 – 3 7 0
Atlee 100 001 0 – 2 5 6
Vinson and Lowe; Holte, Jenkins and Keyes. L: Jenkins.
Semifinals
Prince George 000 010 000 000 01 – 2 8 3
Cosby 100 000 000 000 00 – 1 10 2
Vinson and Lowe; Higbie, Sweat (6) and Hall. L: Sweat.
Midlothian 001 000 0 – 1 4 1
Atlee 200 100 x – 3 4 1
Townsend and Edmunds; Jenkins and Keyes.
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