Moments after Cave Spring had clinched the Group AA state softball championship Sunday afternoon at Radford University, a pair of Lady Knights hoisted a cooler of Gatorade destined for Knights head coach Nick Sharp. Sharp, anticipating what was coming, jumped to the right while the dousing missed wide left. It was arguably Cave Spring’s only major misstep of the weekend.
Taking advantage of stellar defense, timely hitting and a gritty pitching performance from their ace, the Knights toppled Woodgrove 9-3 to win the first state softball championship in school history.
Appropriately, as the team accepted the championship trophy on the Radford Highlander infield, they were joined by Roanoke County School Superintendent Lorraine Lange, principal Steve Spangler and the first-ever Cave Spring softball head coach Fuzzy Minnix.
“It doesn’t seem real,” Cave Spring senior Cortney Cooper said as the team celebrated. “I think we just got super-hyped to win it.”
Sunday’s win came less than 24 hours after Cave Spring had knocked off King George 7-1 in a semifinal matchup that had its starting time moved four times before the eventual first pitch at 7:00 pm Saturday night.
After Saturday’s win over a King George team that had entered the contest with only one loss and a Foxes starter, Taylor Brandts, that brought a 19-0 record to the circle, Sharp had a quick answer to whom the Knights pitching rotation would bring to the circle for the 1:00 pm game Sunday.
“I think you know who’ll be pitching tomorrow,” he said with a laugh.
Knights ace Taylor Asimakopoulos had improved to 22-3 with the two-hitter over King George and everyone in the Cave Spring Nation knew she would be back for the Sunday matinee.
With the sun beating down in the mid-80s against the defending state champ Wolverines, Asimakopoulos clearly answered the bell. When she reached base Sunday, pinch runners Victoria Muncy and Jordan Clifton gave her a much-needed breather.
“I was pretty nervous,” Asimakopoulos noted afterward. “After we got the lead I was able to settle down. Right now, it’s a dream.”
After two scoreless innings to start the game, Cave Spring struck first in the top of the third. Alayna Francis got things started with a single before walks to Asimakopoulos and Cortney Cooper loaded the bases. Sophomore Kylie Kent then sent a blooper down the left field line that fell on the chalk after glancing off the glove of diving Wolverine left fielder Mackenzie Moler, plating two runs. Madi Billings followed with a RBI single to put the Knights up 3-0.
Woodgrove got one run back in their half of the third. A two-out single and passed ball were followed by a RBI hit off the glove of third-baseman Francis. Further damage was avoided when Cooper made an over-the-head grab of a drive to deep center for the third out.
Cave Spring added a run in the fifth when Billings delivered a two-out single on a 3-1 count for a 4-1 Knight lead.
Woodgrove had its best chance to even things up in the bottom of the fifth, but a major baserunning gaffe stymied the Wolverine comeback.
After Moler had opened the inning with a single to right, Wolverine outfielder Ashley Cole dropped down a perfect bunt which Cave Spring catcher Pami White fielded cleanly, but had no chance of throwing out the speedy Cole. Suddenly, the first base umpire stopped play and called the baserunner out for leaving the bag early. The bunt was likewise negated, sending Cole back to the batters box.
Woodgrove would load the bases and close to within 4-3 on a late throw to the plate by shortstop Kent and a fielders choice grounder that scored the third Wolverine run. Kent then redeemed herself with a jumping catch of a drive that seemed destined for the outfield.
Although pushed to the ropes, it would be Cave Spring that would send its opponent to the mat in the sixth. After a Francis single got the Knights rolling, Woodgrove brought its third pitcher of the game, Taylor Kilgour, to the circle. Kilgour came with fast balls down Broadway and the heart of the Cave Spring lineup, known for its power, had a heyday.
Sophomore Abby Beatty, who led Cave Spring with eight homers this year, wasted no time, sending a RBI double off the right field fence. Asimakopoulos followed with a two-bagger off the left field fence for the second Knight run. Cooper laced a shot down the left field line for a third score, and Pami White finished off the four-run onslaught with a two-out RBI single. Cave Spring led 8-3.
“I’m sure excited !” Beatty said after the game. “We were the underdogs and Cave Spring had never been in a final. It’s totally amazing.”
When asked if she was happy when Woodgrove brought in a fastball pitcher as she came to bat in the sixth, Beatty responded with a huge grin, “I was ready to hit. That crack you hear when you connect made me know it was a big hit.”
Woodgrove’s last big opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth. The Wolverines loaded the bases on a single, hit batsman and walk. Any hope of a late rally was dashed when Beatty made a two-out running catch in left. Beatty made an afternoon of highlight reel catches in left as numerous Woodgrove drives found nothing but leather.
Cave Spring added an insurance run in the seventh and Woodgrove went in order to end the game as the Knights sent the gloves flying, and mobbed one another on the field.
In the end it was a total team victory for Cave Spring, including 13 hits on the afternoon. And, if Asimakopoulos tired, Cassi Parulis was waiting in the wings. Likewise, the Knight infield of Billings, second baseman Hailey Sitze, Francis and Kent kept Woodgrove at bay most of the afternoon.
“I told the girls ‘keep swinging, keep swinging, keep swinging'”, Sharp noted. “This team has come such a long way. These girls worked hard, executed and got the job done. We’ve got good hitters. In the sixth we wanted them to let us dial it in.”
Alayna Francis, who like Kylie Kent the night before, got the key Cave Spring rallies going Sunday afternoon. “An amazing feeling,” the sophomore noted. “From one to nine (in the batting order) we got 13 hits. I’m so excited for everyone.”
Cave Spring, which finished the season 24-4, looks to be back in force next year, losing only 5 seniors including Cooper, Billings, Lauren Roach, Muncy and Amanda Simmons. Juniors Kayla Lester and Caitlyn Williams will join Asimakopoulos and Clifton along with the six current sophomore starters from the title team.
As for Asimakopoulos, named regional pitcher of the year on Monday, she chuckled when asked if she was going to pitch any in the cage the following day after 14 innings in a span of 20 hours.
“Nope, I might go to the pool.”
BILL TURNER
