Benchmark established for

Benchmark established for

high school softball program

Sophomore pitching Ace, Rachel Sharp, established a benchmark for the high school softball program by pitching the first-ever, Perfect Softball Game, in the 12 year history of the program.

A perfect game means that no opposing batter ever reaches base safely. Every batter that Sharp faced from "tne Lady Bulldogs thaf’aftemoon was retired by her or her teammates without getting on first base. That’s right — 21 up, 21 down and the seven-inning game was over.

The tall, lanky right-hander was just too much for the Luray team on that day, as she struck out 13, assisted on four other putouts, and caught one pop-up herself. She had a three and two count on four batters and came back to strike each one of them out — one of which, she served up a perfect change-up that completely fooled the Luray third baseman, who swung and missed on the third strike.

So dominating on this day was Ms. Sharp that not one ball was hit to the outfield grass. The team needed a good effort as their offensive performance was not very impressive.

Fortunately, the Panthers scored one run in the first inning of the game and that held up for a 1-0 win over Luray. After the game, Head Coach Jon Smythe said, “Girls like Rachel don’t come along that often. She’s the complete package — “the real deal,” as they would say in today’s sport vernacular.

She’s not just a pitcher, she’s a real competitor and that’s where champions come from. Together with her catcher — her kindred spirit and live-in sister, junior Gwen Johnson, these two young athletes are the best we’ll see around here for some time to come.

If anyone in the county wants to see a classy combination, they need to get out and see this duo in action.”