Senior Day sensations

By Shane Mettlen

Published: May 7, 2008

Culpeper County High School needed to bounce back and the Devilettes did in a big way. One night after a tough one-run loss at Battlefield, CCHS cruised past Liberty on senior day, 6-0.

Though there are two home games remaining, the Devilettes (13-4, 7-4 Cedar Run District) chose Tuesday’s contest to honor their seven seniors and the fourth-year players responded. Pitcher Nichole Beall pitched a complete game, striking out 11 and allowing four hits with no walks. She also led off the game with a home run over the left-center field fence and added an RBI single in the fourth.

“When she can start the game off like that, whether it be a base hit or whatever,” CCHS coach Janice Gillespie said of Beall. “We can usually produce from that. That was what was so disappointing in last night’s game, because she did that and they still scored first.”

Nichole Beall wasn’t the only Culpeper senior to contribute to the victory. Her twin sister Michelle added a single and scored a run and centerfielder Logan Stephens singled, drove in a run and scored. Senior right fielder Brittney Owens also scored.

With the Devilettes cooking, Liberty never stood a chance. Beall’s homer off Eagles starter Tyler Ezzo was the start of a two-run first inning. Catcher Sam May, who finished 2 for 3 with a run scored, delivered on a two-out double later in the inning then crossed the plate on an RBI single from Stephens.

“When you come out and jump on a team like we did it’s a really nice start,” Nichole Beall said. “It’s more of a confidence booster than anything. This was definitely the game to do it.”

CCHS scored at least one run in each of the first four innings before Liberty (4-12, 2-10) was finally able to cool down the Devilettes’ offense. But by that time the damage was done and the Eagles really only threatened to score one time, after leftfielder Brittany Aubrey doubled then stole third in the second inning.

“I think we kind go laid back a little bit after we got that lead and they weren’t hitting at all,” Gillespie said. “I think we knew we had the game, which I guess is good, but I didn’t want them to get over confident.”

It was an important game for Culpeper, which dropped a 1-0 nail biter Monday at Battlefield. The Devilettes close out the regular season this week with games against Osbourn (tonight) and Loudoun Valley (Friday), the only other teams to beat them this season. Victories against those teams could help CCHS lock up one of the top two seeds in the district tournament.

“It’s a tough week coming up,” Nichole Beall said. “We got to play like we can play and stay focused. We don’t want to wear ourselves out, but we got to play like we know we can.”

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