By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
Charity Watson must love facing the J.H. Rose Rampants.
The Washington Pam Pack junior fired a no-hitter in her team’s 2-1 victory in Thursday evening’s Coastal Conference clash. That gave the hard-throwing pitcher the 13th no-hitter of her career. Watson has tossed no-hitters the last three times she has faced Rose.
They never grow old, according to the talented hurler.
Washington (4-0, 2-0) benefited from some sloppy defense by the Rampants (5-3, 1-1) to score the winning run.
With the score knotted 1-1, Davey Ann Burbage led off the fifth and reached on a fielding error by Rose pitcher Amy Godley. Amber Alligood dropped down a bunt with the hopes of moving Burbage to second. Godley picked up the ball and tried to get Burbage out at second, but her throw sailed over the second baseman’s head and into center field.
One out later, Stacey Mayer dropped down a bunt of her own.
Rampant catcher Lauren Williams was a bit high with her throw to first as the ball glanced off the first baseman’s glove and rolled toward the Washington dugout.
Burbage sped around third and raced home for what proved to be the winning run.
Watson retired the final six batters she faced, including four by strikeout, to end the game. It was the first time Watson has pitched the whole game this season.
Godley wasn’t bad herself for the Rampants. The senior, who will pitch at Pitt Community College next year, allowed just one hit and struck out five. However, five errors by the Rampants certainly hurt.
The Pam Pack jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Marissa Fucito slapped a one-out single into center, the lone hit of the game. She moved to second when Kayla Spain reached on an error. After a double steal, Fucito scored on a wild pitch.
Fucito injured her knee when she slid into home. The Pam Pack catcher was replaced in the next inning, and that came back to hurt Washington.
Megan Lowery struck out to lead off the top of the fifth, but reached on a passed ball. Lowery advanced to third on another passed ball before eventually scoring on a squeeze play.
Fucito returned behind the plate in the inning and the Rampants didn’t do any more damage.
The Pack went on to score the winning run in the bottom half.
Washington will return to action next weekend when it takes part in the Washington Daily News/Northside Easter Tournament.
J.H. Rose 000 010 0 — 1 0 5
Washington 000 110 x — 2 1 1
WP: Charity Watson: LP: Amy Godley
Hitters: JHR — Megan Lowery 0-3 (run); W — Marissa Fucito 1-3 (run), Davey Ann Burbage 0-2 (run)