Devilettes continue run

Shane Mettlen
Published: May 20, 2008

There’s a reason why the Culpeper County High School softball team — which plays Loudoun Valley in the Cedar Run District tournament semifinals tonight at Osbourn — has scored 41 runs in the past seven games. There’s not an easy out in the Blue Devilettes’ lineup and that forces opposing pitchers and their coaches into dilemmas.

That was the case Monday night when Osbourn Park decided to give CCHS’s Nichole Beall, one of the district’s top power hitters, a free pass with two outs in the second inning. At the time Culpeper was nursing a 2-1 lead and Osbourn Park was playing with confidence. But intentionally walking Beall put two runners on base for Anna Klumpp, another Devilette who has been crushing the ball as of late.

Not wanting to give Klumpp anything good to hit, Yellow Jackets pitcher Stephanie Kestermann tried to work the corners and wound up walking Klumpp to load the bases. That brought up Michelle Beall. Two batters after intentionally walking Nichole Beall, the Jackets had to face her equally capable twin sister with the bases loaded. The next pitch was a grand slam and as the ball left the park so did any hope Osbourn Park had of pulling off the upset.

“We’re hitting the ball really well and I don’t even know what else to say,” CCHS coach Janice Gillespie said after the game. The 11-1 victory over the Yellow Jackets gave the Devilettes a 41-2 advantage over the past seven games. During that stretch Culpeper has gotten production and power throughout the lineup.

Catcher Sam May, who hit two homers in a regular season game against OPHS, drove in three runs with a double Monday. Outfielder Logan Stephens has also been slugging the ball and delivered three RBI in the game.

The bottom of the Culpeper order is also capable of doing damage. Slap-hitting outfielder Sam Robson also delivered an extra base hit in the No. 7 spot and No. 8 hitter Brittney Owens would have had a home run if her shot over the leftfield fence had stayed fair.

It’s easy to understand why the Devilettes are playing with loads of confidence.

“We’ll be OK if we stay humble,” Michelle Beall said. “We need to stay confident, not cocky.”

Tyler heading to Showcase
Culpeper County High School boys lacrosse goalkeeper Jackson Tyler was one of 96 high school seniors selected to play in the National Senior Showcase in Baltimore June 20-21.

The showcase features four teams representing the North, South, East and West regions and Tyler was chosen to play for the South. Tyler, who will play at Christopher Newport University next season, was one of four Virginians chosen.

Simpson signs with Concord
Liberty running back Mark Simpson is heading to Concord University in Athens, W.Va., where he’ll continue his football career with the Mountain Lions. Concord is an NCAA Division II program that competes in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Simpson started his high school career at CCHS before transferring to Liberty in the fall. He helped the Eagles to a 6-3 record in 2007 and will join a Concord program that finished 1-11 last year.

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or