Brandenburg mows down the Wildcats

April 22, 2006|By CURT HORNBECKER - Staff Correspondent

THURMONT, Md.

Fully recovered from an early-season ankle injury, Alicia Brandenburg has discovered she much prefers playing to riding the pine.

But the Williamsport softball team finds her far more likeable in a sitting position.

Brandenburg's 60-mph fastball completely stymied the Wildcats' offense Friday and spurred Catoctin to a 4-0 victory in a key MVAL Antietam softball game.

"I've been feeling pretty good lately," said Brandenburg after her one-hit, 11-strikeout masterpiece. "After hurting myself and having to sit out, watching the game isn't nearly as much fun."

The Catoctin right-hander got all the offensive support she needed in the first inning without the benefit of a base hit.

Brittany Brown reached second on a two-base error with one out, and moved to third on a passed ball. Brandenburg followed with a walk and took second without a throw.

Kasey Stiles popped out to first, and Brown alertly scored on the play as Brandenburg took third and came around to score on the second Williamsport error of the inning.

"I told them, 'Let's jump on this thing early,'" said Cougars coach Amy Hunt. "We don't always do that, so it was nice to get that early lead. It allowed us to relax a little more."

Catoctin (7-3, 5-1) added two more runs in the second when Sam Geising reached on a one-out single and stole second. Casey Hertel followed with a walk, and two straight wild pitches from Williamsport starter Jessica Bennett (2-3) scored Geising and moved Hertel to third. A Lauren Wildasin groundout plated Hertel to finish the scoring.

Meanwhile, Williamsport (7-6, 5-3) was unable to touch Brandenburg after Casey Siler's two-out hit in the second. Brandenburg faced just 23 hitters, two over the minimum, and retired the last 16.

Wildcats coach Tom Dzur admitted it's difficult to prepare his club for a pitcher who throws as hard as Brandenburg.

"I try in practice," said Dzur. "I move the screen halfway (to the plate) and fire it, but it's just not the same."

|

|

|