Lamb leads Confederates to Region 5B top seed By Rob Witham For the Mechanicsville Local MECHANICSVILLE – Losing the majority of their offense to graduation, the big question mark for Lee-Davis softball entering 2019 was simply, who would score the necessary runs? While the Confederates continue to work out that question, they’ve used the excellent pitching of Savanah Henley and top-notch defense to earn a 16-3 record and the top seed in the Class 5, Region B tournament which begins Friday. It was the formula to their final regular season triumph, a 1-0 nail-biter at home over rival Patrick Henry, their second win over the Patriots in just over 48 hours after survived a nine-inning, 5-2 win in Ashland two nights earlier. Through it all, a quiet, unassuming senior, who didn’t play at all a year ago, and who’s overcome more than most to simply be on the field and play the game she loves, has provided the senior leadership and, more
Joel Klein for The Local
Lee-Davis first baseman Kirsten Lamb dives back into first base in the Confederates’ 2-1 win over rival Patrick Henry Friday. Despite a medcal condition that left one leg longer than the other, the determined senior came back to play and is one of the keys to Lee-Davis’ success.
importantly, the confidence this young Lee-Davis team has needed in order to grow up this season. She’s Kirsten Lamb, who may be small in stature, espe-
cially for a first baseman, but symbolically stands as the tallest figure on the Lee-Davis roster. “At first, I didn’t think I was going to be able to play this year. The doctors basically told me
don’t. It’s going to hurt you. Try to find another sport,” Lamb recalled. “But I’ve played softball all my life, so I can’t really do that.” It wasn’t one injury that
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Thomas (Minnesota), Eastern Connecticut State, Texas Lutheran, Williams, Illinois Wesleyan and Trine. RandolphMacon’s first opponent in the double-elimination tournament is a familiar foe – Emory. They will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. “At the beginning of the season we didn’t think we would be where we are now, but we worked hard,” Whittemore said. Randolph-Macon head coach Kevin Proffitt had included Whittemore in the planning for Saturday. His senior pitcher Frank Strauss for Randolph-Macon College The Yellow Jackets celebrate with their well-earned tropy after winning the Newport News super- knew she might be called upon in case Celiberti got in trouble. regional against Christopher Newport in the NCAA Division III softball tournament Saturday.
shelved the senior nicknamed “Scoots”, but a condition discovered in sixth grade. Lamb’s legs were different lengths. Corrective measures were taken, and Lamb was enjoying a season playing travel softball her eighth grade year when an opponent slid into her knee. Later, she stepped on a base awkwardly affecting a screw. Subsequent seasons became a battle just to play. As her teammates advanced to the 2018 Class 5 state semifinal against Prince George last June, Lamb could only watch. With just one more chance to play for her school, Lamb made her decision. “I played field hockey (last fall), then thought, you know what, it’s senior year, I’m going to go after it and do my best,” Lamb said. “I can’t complain if I strike out here or there because of the year off. My outcome this season has been pretty decent.” Whether compiling putouts at first from fellow senior, shortstop Lauren Taylor, or underclassmen Kiley Lamberth and Leanna Bartrug, a fresh-
men who has played solidly at third base during the absence of regular second baseman Carlee Harding, forcing Lamberth, also a freshman, to second, or adding a few words in conversations inside the circle, Scoots has gained the utmost respect from her teammates, and her coaches. “Being here this year and play her senior season and with her teammates is huge,” LeeDavis head coach Jackie Davis explained. “She’s always making sure everything is done, helps out her teammates, does whatever she has to do. She’s a quiet leader.” Lamb and her teammates matured quickly this season thanks to one of the toughest regular season slates in the area. Once again, Henley sparked the Lee-Davis offense Friday with a fourth inning double. Courtesy runner Sheridan Lambert scored on a Lamberth single to provide the game’s only run. Blair Rhodes had both of Patrick Henry’s hits in the contest, and was stranded at
No one expected that to happen before the game even got started. “It couldn’t have worked out any better. She’s been ridiculous for four years and she was able to finish it off,” Proffitt said. “She made the one mistake in the last inning, but she – in typical Candace fashion – she kind of took a deep breath and got herself together and knocked out the nine, one and two hitters and we were good to go.” Christopher Newport was home team for the winner-takeall game. Randolph-Macon had a 4-0 lead going into the seventh. Whittemore was pitching her 15th inning of the day. She started by giving up a double to the Captains’ Caitlin Abernathy,
then walking Emerald Cheesbrew. Then pinch hitter Krista Jasak stepped up to the plate. Whittemore served Jasak a changeup – put the ball where she was aiming, she said – but Jasak did what a good hitter does, making contact and driving the ball over the left-center field fence to make it 4-3. Christopher Newport’s elation did not last long, however. Whittemore struck out pinch hitter Calah Savage, dealt a groundouit to Maddie Hool and got Grace Wild to pop up to shortstop for the win. For her efforts, Whittemore was named Newport News
see LAMB, pg. 30
The Mechanicsville Local
see R-MC, pg. 30
May 22, 2019
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