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Briggs now in control of Hornets
A few weeks ago while playing at a spring break tournament in Richmond, the Herndon softball team saw its season flash before its eyes.Ace pitcher Katie Rynex, who will play for Ball State next year, suffered a broken right ankle while sliding into second base. Out for at least the regular season, Rynex now hobbles around in a cast with the support of one crutch.
Instead of mowing down hitters, she has been relegated to scorebook duty with her fractured fibula bone (on the outside of the ankle).
"I was really upset because I was excited about the season and now it's gone down," said Rynex after the Hornets' 2-0 loss to Centreville Monday night. "But I know the team's doing well, they're coping with it well. And they have the talent to go far, so I still believe they'll do just as good."
"Coping" might not be a strong enough word in this case. Filling the void in the starting pitching spot is senior Katie Briggs, who has shared hurling duties with Rynex for most of her career. And although she does not have the same overpowering speed as her colleague, Briggs knows how to work the ball.
"I would say Briggs has more movement, but it's more effective," Rynex surmised. "It's gonna take her far because I am even shocked sometimes by her movement. It's pretty good."
Monday night, Briggs was masterful on the mound for the Hornets (9-3, 4-2 Concorde District). She struck out 10 and allowed just three hits. Four times she faced the minimum number of batters in an inning. There was, however, one mistake. Just one.
With nobody out in the top of the sixth inning, Briggs threw a screwball to Centreville freshman Cara Donovan. The third baseman proceeded to blast one over the left field fence for the Wildcats' first run of the night. They would plate one more runner a few batters later due to a pair of fielding errors, but that was it. The damage was done and Herndon's bats were not able to get around on Centreville pitchers Brianne Pease (5IP, 3K, 2H) and Jessica Ferrick (2K). Centreville improved to 9-2 overall and 4-0 in Concorde play.
"Unfortunately one big homer really is the difference in the game," coach Bonnie O'Hearn said. "She throws a lot of good junk; she's not gonna overpower anybody. Katie Rynex has a lot more speed and is a lot more intimidating in that aspect, but Katie Briggs has done a great job of moving the ball around. That's a good thing. She's been pitching really well, she's gotten a lot of strikeouts."
Briggs was asked about the injury to her teammate and how it affected the team when it happened.
"At first it was a really big shock because Katie and I are seniors and we've played together all four years, so it was really weird," she said. "But things happen and since we were at our tournament when it happened, the whole team was together and we all decided that we were gonna have to come together. Our goal is still to win."
Every sports team relies on certain things to get it motivated. Some read the newspapers for signs of disrespect, while others look to injured teammates for fuel. For the last two years, as The Times has chronicled, the Herndon softball team has used its empty banner in the gym for inspiration.
Before last Friday's game at Westfield, the Hornets' captains made keychains for the entire team. One one side is the team photo, while the other side depicts something more meaningful; a picture of the banner. Every player now has one hanging from their backpacks.
"Last year we had a huge problem with team unity. There were a lot of disagreements," O'Hearn said. "All offseason, I drilled it into their heads that there was no way we could win championships with that kind of stuff. This year, in some ways I think with Katie getting hurt, it forced them to get along more because they had to work together more as a team. They couldn't rely on Katie as much."
Rynex will have her cast removed next week, and will then be fitted into a protective boot. There is a chance she would return for the Concorde District tournament in mid-May.
"I'm glad I get to pitch, but I would never wish Katie to get hurt," said Briggs, who will attend East Carolina University next year and may tryout for the softball squad. "Hopefully it will be good."
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