South County's split circle
By Jason Mackey
Forget about the complete game.It's overrated anyway.
The South County softball team has a pair of pitchers that coach Al Thompson will strategically manage this season, typically opting to juice four innings out of one before he closes with the other, all but nullifying the possibility of a complete game.
Last Friday's 3-0 blanking of Annandale served as the epitome of South County's success, as senior Paulina Gregorowicz and sophomore Chelsey Dunham combined for a seven-inning shutout, striking out 14 batters and only walking one.
“I always go with two pitchers,” said Thompson, whose Stallions improved to 5-3 overall, 2-0 in the Patriot District with a 3-0 shutout of West Potomac Tuesday night. “I kind of flip a coin the day before to see who's going to start. They get along so well, and they complement each other so well.”
Thompson's coin flip before Friday's win could've been slightly slanted toward Gregorowicz. In two games against Annandale last season, the duo tossed all 14 innings, as South County earned a pair of lopsided wins. Gregorowicz contributed eight of those frames of no-hit ball, allowing only one unearned run and striking out 10.
Regardless of the logic that surrounded Thompson's decision, Gregorowicz found herself in the pitching circle on a windy night at Ossian Hill Park, aiming to become the reason for South County's first Patriot District win of the season.
She did, but not how you might've thought.
Although she didn't allow a home run last year as a pitcher, Gregorowicz, who also serves as the team's leadoff hitter, clubbed a fifth-inning homer that zapped the life out of Annandale. The solo shot tucked itself neatly around the left field foul pole, providing Gregorowicz with her first home run ... ever.
“It was the first one in my life ... ever,” explained an overwhelmed Gregorowicz, who, in addition to the homer, finished 1-for-3 with a walk. “It was really cool. I've had [home runs] where there weren't fences, but that doesn't really count.”
Dunham, the apparent heir to Gregorowicz's throne, made sure that her mentor's home run counted. After entering the game in the bottom of fifth inning, Dunham needed only 10 pitches -- echoing a feat that Gregorowicz first accomplished in the third inning -- to strike out all three Annandale hitters.
“I have a lot of movement pitches, so I think that gives me an edge,” said Dunham, who posted eight strikeouts in three scoreless innings of relief. “The strike zone was pretty big, so that helped too, but I felt good tonight. I felt fast.”
Added Thompson, “When they're pitching well, all I need is one or two runs ... and I've never seen a time when they don't pitch well.”