by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
It had been 38 games since Thomas Dale had lost in either softball or girls soccer, combined.
The streak ended in one night at the hands of Deep Run, as the Wildcats beat the Knights’ softball team 3-0 and the girls soccer squad 3-1 at Thomas Dale.
Softball: Lewis At It Again
Heather Lewis is one of the most humble athletes you’d meet. Almost to a fault she’s shying away from the bright spotlight that comes when you dominate in the circle.
Lewis, a junior, continued her brilliant performance as her defense helped her to a one-hitter to take down the Knights (20-1).
She’s allowed one hit in the past 14 innings.
“We just came out here and we just really wanted to win,” Lewis said. “A lot of people were talking about how they were undefeated and everything. We just really wanted to put a ‘1’ beside their name.”
Deep Run was only able to gather two hits off of TD’s terrific hurler Lacey Waldrop, but took advantage of two Dale errors to advance to Thursday’s region semifinal versus Cosby, a 2-1 winner over defending champion Hanover.
“They wanted to face this young lady but I didn’t want to,” Deep Run coach Stu Brown said, adding he’s happy he won’t have to face her anymore since he’s going to football full-time as the coach of Varina. “We were fortunate to climb on those pitches. That’s how the game works.”
Said Thomas Dale coach Dennis Jones: “That’s probably the best hitting team we’ve faced all year. They didn’t make any errors. They had two hits but they put the ball in play. [Errors] **** you.”
Deep Run 021 000 0 – 3 2 0
Thomas Dale 000 000 0 – 0 1 2
Lewis and Anderson; Waldrop and Tuck.
Records: Deep Run (18-6); Thomas Dale (20-1)
Girls Soccer: 50-50 Ball To Deep Run
Deep Run coach Emily Selbeck didn’t know much about Thomas Dale. So the task for her Wildcats was simple.
“They won every single 50-50 ball,” Selbeck said. “We didn’t know much about this team, which was to our advantage. They didn’t know anything so they came in with an advantage.”
Chaney LaReau got the scoring going for the Wildcats, who will face Cosby, a 3-0 winner over defending region champion Atlee. Her goal gave Deep Run a 1-0 advantage heading into the second half.
“She’s our MVP player,” said Selbeck of the volleyball starter. “What’s incredible is that she’s a freshman.”
Another ninth grader, Emma Newins, was entered at keeper for Chelsea Parker to start the second half. She stood in and made 12 saves, five of impressive fashion.
“She’s probably the best athlete on our team,” said Selbeck of Newins, a standout basketball player for the Wildcats.
Said Deep Run’s Monica Fleisher, who had a goal and an assist: “In the first half we had really great intensity. When we came out in the second half we knew that they were going to come out even tougher because they wanted to get back into the game.”
Deep Run 1 2 – 3
Thomas Dale 0 1 – 1
DR: LaReau, Fleisher, Powers
TD: Vandecker
Saves: Newins (DR) 12; Parker (DR) 1; Dowlen (TD) 8
Records: Deep Run 12-3-2; Thomas Dale 18-1
Baseball/Boys Soccer: Postponed
With Patrick Henry ahead 7-4 on Thomas Dale, the heavens opened and lightning hit, postponing the contest until Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Thomas Dale.
Boys soccer never got off the ground. As the introductions were blasting from the PA, the same storm hit the stadium 200 yards away from the baseball field.
That game is set for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Thomas Dale.
Patrick Henry 300 4 – 7
Thomas Dale 130 0 – 4
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