While the battle of Yorktown came in 1781 at the very end of the Revolutionary War, the West Potomac win over Yorktown came much earlier in the 2015 softball campaign.
The result was the same either way, as the good guys won back in 1781, and the good gals won 11-7 in slugfest in the opening game of the Spring Break Tournament.
The American win over the British in the battle of Yorktown took place in, well Yorktown, on Virginia's famed Middle Peninsula and changed the future of the world events.
The Wolverine win over Yorktown HS, which is based in Arlington (165 miles from the actual Yorktown), while probably not quite as historically momentous, still lifted the Wolverines to a 2-0 mark (akin to the U.S. record after the War of 1812, which were also back-to-back home games).
(Editor's Note: "Probably not?" Wow -- going out on a limb there? Reporter's Note: Do you wanna trade jobs? Waiting. . .didn't think so. Editor's Note: Moving on.)
The Spring Break Tournament game, which resumes next Saturday and the following Monday, featured a starring role by a new Wolverine, "Tarp." Tarp, or "Tarpy" as it is known by Wolverine insdiers, kept the infield dry enough to allow the games to go on. An army of West Potomac players, coaches, parents, and siblings showed up at 8:30 in the morning to first push a bunch of ice and water off the tarp, and then fold and drag the heavy tarp off the field so the games could go on. The combination of strength and cardio needed for to move Tarpy provided parents with credit for having completed a Crossfit workout.
(It's NOT true that the Team Rep is planning to charge people a small workout fee the next time Tarpy has to be moved, although she did consider it. Add the soundtrack from "Flashdance," and it would be quite the trendy workout that would raise good coin for the team coffers.)
(Editor's Note: Now you are just making stuff up! Reporter's Note: This is my third year doing this, and you finally just now figured it out?)
Yorktown greeted emergency starter Christina Dillard with two quick runs in the first inning, but West Potomac rallied to take a lead it never relinquished in the bottom of the first.
After a walk to Grace Moery, Annabelle Miller forced Grace at second. With two outs, the next four Wolverines reached. Raven singled to right for the first West Po hit, and went to second on the throw to third. Caroline Bowman reached on an error, as did Maddie Miller. With the score tied 2-2 after the errors, Megan Jackson ripped a two run single to left to make a 4-2 lead, with all four runs coming with two outs, and, because of the errors, all four were unearned.
Yorktown scratched out a run in the top of the second, but a strong throw from Maddie Miller in right field to cut down a runner trying to go from first to third on a single ended the threat. After the game, new Nationals rightfielder Bryce Harper (moving from LF last season) checked in with Maddie for tips on playing the position.
Leading 4-3, the Wolverines added a run in the home half of the second. Harley Devine led off with a single, a steal, but was forced at third on a fielder's choice. Nikki Minnis, who had walked, scored on a Raven Williams sacrifice fly, that came after an Annabelle Miller single to load the bases.
Yorktown led off the third with a walk, but back-to-back running catches in the outfield by Grace and Maddie quieted any chance at a rally, as Christina got the fourth batter to pop weakly to first.
Then came the big Wolverine inning. The bottom of the fourth is the first time this season the team batted around, sending twelve batters to the plate and scoring six runs.
Maddie led off with a ringing double to center. Torie Bolger walked, Harley reached on an error by the Yorktown infield. Nikki's single brought in the first run of the inning. Grace scratched out a walk for an RBI, Annabelle singled to left for a RBI, and Raven promptly singled for an RBI. Pinch-hitter Olivia Manous drove in the final run of the inning with a single. Suddenly it was 11-3.
But Yorktown refused to surrender (sorry, I can't help myself). After Christina had a one-two-three inning in the top of the 4th, she was replaced by Micaela Neulight in the fifth. Yorktown had the first five batters of the inning reach base, scoring three runs on three hits and four walks. The key defensive play came with two outs out, as Grace pegged a throw to home on a single that back-up catcher Natalie Lerner deftly caught and applied the tag for to end the rally with West Potomac leading 11-7.
Micaela settled down in the sixth, allowing just a single to one of the four hitters she faced.
And the rest is history.
The British fife and drum corps did not play "The World Turned Upside Down" after the Wolverine win. Instead, hard-working players, coaches, parents, and siblings brought Tarpy out for a command performance, rolled it, and put Tarpy back until it's needed later this week.
Tarpy: Protects Like the Secret Service, Only Duller.
Wolverine Whispers: Jayne Orleans missed the game with a fever. In a spot start, Christina got the win, striking out three and allowing just one walk and six hits.
The next game is the Robinson make-up on Monday, 6:30 for the Wolverines' first away game. If you need directions to Robinson, don't contact me, use your smart phone or your Google machine.
Web gems for the game were turned in by both Grace and Maddie. They each had key outfield assists to cut short Yorktown rallies, and they also made back-to-back running grabs in the third inning to ensure it was a quiet inning for the visitors.
Maddie has the only extra base hit of the game, a double to center. The Wolverines had nine hits overall. Annabelle and Raven each had two singles. RBIs came from Megan (two), Raven (two), Nikki, Grace, Annabelle,
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