Hughes pitches shutout to lift Patriots over Raiders

ROB WITHAM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Mechanicsville – Any young sports team can expect growing pains. But they can also reach milestones, sometimes when you need one the most.

Coming off a difficult loss to Louisa County earlier in the week, Patrick Henry softball faced a trip to rival Atlee on Friday, May 12. The result was pivotal, with both teams fighting for playoff position in Class 4, Region B.

And, after surviving a first inning where the Raiders got three runners aboard but couldn’t score, Patriots freshman Morgan Hughes settled in and, with a stellar defensive performance, Patrick Henry won a gritty 1-0 game moving its record to 11-7, while Atlee dropped to 12-6.

“We rallied the troops, had a really good practice yesterday,” noted Patrick Henry head coach Chris Hughes when asked about trying to get his team refocused after the Louisa defeat. “We talked about battling through adversity, and they really responded today.”

It was a total team effort led by Morgan Hughes and a defense that, time and again, made sensational plays to keep Atlee off the scoreboard. It began in the first inning when, after two walks, catcher Kenzie Holloway threw out Sierra Kegley at third base. That play cost Atlee a critical early run as Bailey Bucholz singled in the next at-bat. Hughes retired Gianna Booker and Shannon McKeever to end the Atlee threat.

The Raiders would have base runners in each of the first four innings, including another threat in the third. With Kegley at second base, Bucholz launched a ball deep down the left field line. Lauren Durgala dove to make an incredible catch, her glove just under the ball as it beelined for the ground.

In the fourth after McKeever earned an opening walk, the next two batters attempted to bunt, but both ended with pop outs to Holloway. In the fifth, when Camdyn Metts sought to bunt her way on to begin the frame, the ball briefly hit the air, just long enough for Hughes to dive forward out of the circle for another circus catch.

“We practice that kind of stuff, but I don’t really like, well, when you see it, catch it,” Hughes said of the play.

That play helped preserve a Patrick Henry lead taken in the top of the fifth. Holloway singled to right, then Hanna Six launched a double to the wall in right field that allowed Holloway to score, her slide beating McKeever’s tag attempt.

The defense sealed the win in the seventh when a Kaitlyn Crenshaw screamer to shortstop was snared by the diving Mackenzie Yates. Then, two batters later, Metts lined the ball up the middle, but right into the glove of Hughes. In an instant, frustration became jubilation.

Hughes, who doesn’t pitch on her travel team, is happy for the opportunity to step into the circle for the Patriots.

“It’s been really fun. I enjoy pitching,” Hughes explained. “I’m not the best at it and we’re still working on a lot of things, but I’ve definitely enjoyed pitching this year, having a team behind me that’s a family, all the time.”

The young Patriots remained in eighth place in Region 4B with a week left in the regular season. The Raiders, despite the loss, are holding steady in sixth. Hanover, at 17-0 and riding a 42-game winning streak, is barely ahead of 17-1 Dinwiddie for the top seed in the region.

Atlee finishes regular season play hosting Mechanicsville Friday, while the Patriots host the Hawks. Coach Hughes hopes to build off the Atlee win, not just for this year, but for seasons to come.

“We’ve grown up a lot this year,” Hughes said. “The future’s bright for us, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Personal and school records are broken at Dogwood Track Classic

Contributed Report

For many, the first weekend in May means watching the Kentucky Derby and horses race on the track, but for Atlee’s high school track and field team, it means a trip to UVAs Lannigan Field to participate in the largest outdoor meet in the state.

On May 5-6, 181 teams partici- pated in the 59th annual Dogwood Track classic. The meet hosts elite competition from schools across the state and beyond.

Friday night kicked off with sprint medley relays and distance medley relays as well as the 2K steeplechase. These events are not usually raced in high school so many took advantage of the op- portunity to run their best athletes in each leg of the events.

Atlee’s Patrick Allen was a natural in the Steeplechase, winning the event and breaking the Atlee record with a time of 6:10.03.

Later that night the 3200 races began. The weekend’s full moon must have brought out the best in the runners as many set major personal records in their races.

Travis Albon had Atlee’s best finish, placing 22nd with a time of 9:25.48.

On Saturday, all eyes were on the first heats of both the boys and girls 1600 race. In the boys race, Allen once again broke a school record, running a 4:14.25 and placing second. The previous record of 4:14.84 stood for 15 years and was held by Ben DeJarnette.

Senior Courtney Mudd ran a 2:21.59 in the 800 as well, winning her heat and qualifying for states.

Other state qualifiers were Josie Rempe in the triple jump and Albon in the 3200. Rempe’s 36 foot, 1.5 inch mark in the triple jump placed her in fourth.

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