Stuarts Draft gets statement win in district softball showdown

STUARTS DRAFT — Stuarts Draft just made the Shenandoah District softball race a lot more interesting as we near the halfway point of the district season.

The Cougars rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the third then held off Buffalo Gap for a 4-3 win April 21.

The loss was the first of the season for Gap and drops the Bison into a first-place tie with Wilson Memorial, both at 6-1 in district play. Alleghany is a half game back with a 6-2 district mark. The win by Draft leaves them tied with Fort Defiance and Rockbridge County at 4-3 in district play, just two games out of first.

"This is a tough district this year," said Draft coach Michael Holbert. "It's really a very tough district. That was a good win tonight against a very good team. There's no slouches in this league."

Draft's three losses have come by a total of four runs, so getting a close game to go its way felt good for the Cougars.

"We've definitely had some tough losses," said Draft pitcher Karlee Layne. "We play Wilson Friday so I know that's going to be a big one for us. We had a week to reset with no games last week. We went live and I think we kind of flipped the switch a little bit. Hopefully we can bring that momentum into the rest of the season."

Draft had been off since April 9, perhaps giving them the rest they needed for a tough week with Buffalo Gap and Wilson Memorial. And next week is a three-game one for the Cougars with Nelson County, Riverheads and Fort Defiance.

Against the Bison, Layne pitched all seven innings, striking out seven and scattering eight hits for the win. She did get behind 1-0 in the third before her team rallied in the bottom of the inning.

Stuarts Draft first baseman Maddy Miller snares a throw for a close out during Draft's 4-3 win over Buffalo Gap April 21.

A Lyla Shifflet walk started off the inning before freshman Lynzie Carson followed with a triple into right center tied the game. Layne then singled home Carson for a 2-1 lead.

Carson doubled home a run in fourth to stretch the lead to two and Maddy Miller made it 4-1 Draft with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

But Gap made things interesting in the seventh, scoring two and putting runners at first and second before Draft got the final out on a grounder to second.