Thursday, May 28, 2009
Culler, Cougars shut out Spartans
The season is over for Salem, which made the Group AA softball tournament last year.The season is over for Salem, which made the Group AA softball tournament last year.
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Kaitlyn Culler claims to feel a wee bit of guilt about the changeup.
"She threw me one, too," the Patrick County pitcher said, referring to Salem's Ellen Weaver. "I know how it feels. I kinda feel bad. ... But you do what you gotta do."
Culler's changeup, which sometimes makes batters look like they are swatting at midges, struck out 11 in the Cougars' 5-0 win over Salem in the Region IV quarterfinals Wednesday at the Moyer Sports Complex.
Patrick County (18-3) will play Richlands in the semifinals Friday at Tazewell High School. The season is over for Salem (18-4).
"It's disappointing for the season to end like this because we went to states last year," Weaver said. "But next year I'm sure we'll be back."
Culler said she was "relaxed and ready to play" Wednesday after the game was pushed back a day by rain.
"I was so excited," Culler said. "I slept on it, and it was like, 'We're winning today, there's no other option.' "
Culler struck out the first eight batters she faced, all but Weaver swinging, and got a huge boost when her teammates scored five runs in the top of the third inning.
Whitney Bowers hit a two-run single and Kylene Culler had an RBI single in the inning, but thanks to an error by Sydney Clinevell and a passed ball by Abby Barnett all of the runs were unearned. Weaver also walked two batters and hit a third in the inning to contribute to the scoring outburst.
"Once we start making errors, you get a little tense," Weaver said.
Kaitlyn Culler, on the other hand, was thrilled with the five-run cushion.
"The five runs was a big deal. I hate 1-0 ballgames," Culler said. "I can't stand it. The five runs made me relax even more."
Caitlin Carr busted up Culler's perfect-game bid with a one-out single into the fifth, and Culler ended up allowing three singles and a walk.
"Their pitcher threw a good game. We swung at some things we probably shouldn't have," Weaver said.
Weaver walked four batters and hit one, but gave up just two hits. The Kentucky recruit struck out nine.
"At the beginning of the game, I was having a problem getting called strikes. I was having a hard time finding the strike zone," Weaver said.
