Blazers drop the ball

APR 29, BLAZER STADIUM--

The Blair softball team had only one runner on base today, on an error in the first inning. Watkins Mill High School played nearly perfect ball in every respect and the Blazers fell, 6-0.

Blair's bats were nearly silent throughout the game. The Blazers hit only four balls to the outfield and all were caught. Blair struck out many more times than is the team's norm, often chasing balls high despite the umpire's consistently low strike zone. To the team's credit, the Watkins Mill pitcher was outstanding, never letting up on her speed and controlling pitches extremely well.

Blair's starting pitcher, senior and co-captain Emma Simson, did not fare as well. Suffering from a sore back, she had only one strikeout against two errors and threw more balls than strikes. However, despite her struggles, she allowed only one earned run. The other runs came from the Blazer fielders, who committed eight errors on the game, including a collision in the outfield early on.

Coach Louis Hoelman was very disappointed in his team's offensive efforts after tonight's performance. "I'm tired of making excuses for them not hitting," he said.

Blair's only runner was senior co-captain Carly Vieira, who beat out a bobbled ball to reach first base in the first inning. She then stole second base, the farthest around the diamond that the Blazers got.

The score might have been closer, but two quick errors on routine plays in the sixth inning transformed the Blazers' deficit from three runs to five with no outs. Watkins Mill scored one more run in that inning. After that final run, Simson was replaced by JV pitcher Ellie Blalock, who threw well in a hitless closing effort.