By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Kristi Wood did her best Superman impression, and Charity Watson once again proved to be near super-human. The two helped lead the Washington Lady Pam Pack to a thrilling 1-0 victory over the third-ranked D.H. Conley Vikings in Thursday’s Coastal Conference action.
Watson was brilliant on the mound. The senior, who will pitch at Pitt Community College next year, fired a one-hit gem. She fanned 18 batters and walked one.
The victory kept Washington (5-2, 4-0) unbeaten in conference play, while the loss was the first of the year for the Vikings (10-1, 5-1).
The Pack benefited from a rare Conley error to score the only run of the game. Wood slapped a bouncer back to Viking pitcher Sarah Christian, who bobbled the ball and threw slightly wide to first base, allowing the speedy Wood to reach base.
After Wood stole second, Lilly Ann Arnold smacked the first of her two singles into right field. Wood beat the throw to third, which got away from the third baseman. Wood sprang to her feet, darted down the line and flew across home plate for the winning run.
Whitehead felt confident with Wood on the basepaths.
That was the only time the Pack got to Christian, who struck out seven and gave up just two hits.
The Vikings had a runner reach second base in the second and fourth innings, but Watson kept them there by striking out the next batter.
Conley also threatened in the sixth. Sarah Langley reached on an error, then proceeded to steal second and third. The Pack nearly got out of the jam when Langley got caught in a rundown between third and home, but she made it back to third safely.
Once again, Watson kept the runner stranded as she struck out the next two batters.
Instead of getting worked up, Watson relishes those kind of moments.
Whitehead was impressed.
The Pack plays in the D.H. Conley Easter Tournament on Saturday at the Sara Law Complex in Winterville. Washington will play Southern Wayne at 11 a.m. and East Duplin at 7 p.m.
The Pack then plays at J.H. Rose on Monday at 11 a.m., followed by a 6 p.m. contest against Wilson Hunt back at the Sara Law Complex.