The Ponte Vedra softball team (13-11) split its last two games of the regular season, defeating Fletcher 5-2 at home on Thursday for Senior Night, and falling to Creekside 6-1 on Friday in Knights territory.
Before the Lady Sharks kicked off the action versus the Senators, Ponte Vedra honored six seniors on the team. The group includes Gillian Boss, Michelle Leone, Michelle Holder, Audrey Matt, Bailey Wagoner and Madison Lucchino. The girls celebrated the evening with their family and friends in attendance.
Following the Senior Night festivities, the action between Ponte Vedra and Fletcher ensued. The Senators attacked early with three base hits and one run in the first inning. The Sharks responded in the second, however, with five on base and Olivia Zitiello’s walk bringing in the first, tying run.
Second baseman Cat Beaton was formidable in the third and fourth innings, leaping to catch two line drives, stopping the lead run at second with an attempted double play and catching a pop fly in first-base foul territory.
The scoring picked up again in the fourth inning when Olivia Zitiello slammed a homerun over the center field fence. The homerun scored two runs and put Ponte Vedra up 3-1.
In the fifth inning, Beaton made another two show-stopping plays, and pitcher Michelle Holder’s final strikeout sent Fletcher’s team back out to the field. The Sharks’ rally on the offensive end started with Scotland David with Michelle Leone right behind. Beaton subsequently smashed a line drive RBI double to right field that scored the two final runs.
“She’s a kid that just comes out and performs,” coach Jerry Shepherd said about Beaton. “Real low volume. Line drive hitter. I can rely on her.”
Bailey Wagoner followed with a line drive double to center.
Fletcher answered in the seventh inning with five on, but a pick off from catcher Tara Mcgee to Beaton prevented the Senators from scoring more than one run.
Holder pitched all seven innings to pick up the win. She finished with two strikeouts.
“Michelle’s been stellar for us over the years,” Shepherd said. “We rely on her. It’s a big burden on her sometimes, because all the pressure is put on her shoulders, which is unfair, but she handles it pretty well.”
Holder said the ending of the game was nerve-racking, but her team rose above the pressure.
“It was kind of crazy because it was the last inning of my last senior game ever,” Holder said. “I knew we were going to pull through.”
And the fact that it was Senior Night made it all the more special.
“I was feeling very thankful,” Holder said. “It’s very special to be able to share such an incredible day with all my teammates and just have a great game.”
Lady Sharks fall to Creekside
The following day on Friday, Ponte Vedra lost to Creekside (20-3) 6-1.
Beaton’s 1.75 ERA and Holder’s relief was no match for Creekside’s bats. Beaton held the Knights in the first two innings, but errors and some controversial calls in favor of Creekside enabled four runs to score against the Sharks. Holder came in relief as two additional runs scored.
Creekside’s pitcher finished with five strikeouts and allowed only five total base hits, which came from David, Beaton, Wagoner, Holder and Zitiello. Zitiello’s line drive to center ultimately drove in Ponte Vedra’s only run.
Next up
The Sharks will take on Clay (16-9) on Tuesday, April 30 in the district playoffs. The game is set for 7 p.m. at Clay. The Sharks have lost two games to the Blue Devils earlier in the regular season, 1-0 and 4-2 respectively.
