Defeating Cosby, maintaining the softball field all in a day's work for Powhatan players

Long, early-evening shadows were making their way across the Powhatan High School softball complex Tuesday as a high fly ball fell into the glove of right fielder Brooklyn Narbut for the final out of the Indians’ 7-1 victory over Cosby.

The celebration that followed was understated at best, not because Coach Marie Crump’s crew didn’t savor their successful performance against a talented, well coached rival but because they know it’s just another step in their season-long journey.

Once they’d moved through the handshake line exchanging good-games and high-fives, they repaired to their accustomed spot in short left field for a quick debriefing from Crump and her staff.

Then, rather than gather their personal gear and call it a day, they ran as a group to the equipment area, broke out the heavy rakes, and proceeded to smooth the cleat-created ruts and divots in their dirt infield with the same alacrity with which they had just played the game. 

“It definitely makes a statement,” said Narbut, a senior, of the Indians’ post-game clean-up duty. “I think we get a lot of respect for it. It makes our field look really nice.”

Maintaining their home after practices and games has always been part of the Powhatan softball team culture.

It’s not a chore. It’s an expectation, and a welcomed one, at that.

“The players know that this field is their responsibility,” said Crump. “It’s a great field. They know they have to keep it great. We want it to look as good after the game as it does before the game. We take pride in what we have. We want the field to look as good as we play.”

The Indians went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first when Skylar White led off with an infield hit, moved to second on Cassidy Moser’s sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Narbut’s single to left.

“The key was that we came out and scored in the first inning,” said Crump. “That showed that we can hit the ball. Cosby’s a great team. We came out early, made good contact and kept the pressure on their defense throughout the game. That was the difference.”

The Indians (2-0) put the game away with a five-run fourth inning.

“We came up with key hits at key times,” Crump said. “That’s what the game is about: being able to produce when you get runners on.”

With one out, Natalie Danburg reached base on an infield error and moved to second when Aaliyah Myers drew a walk.  Harlynne Crane followed with a bloop single to right to load the bases.

Then, with the infield playing in, pinch hitter Lily Barr, the No. 9 hitter in the order, stroked a single to left centerfield scoring Danburg and Myers.

Crane moved to third and Barr to second on a wild pitch. White followed with a single to centerfield scoring Crane, then advanced to second on the throw to the plate that held Barr at third.

Mazie Harmon’s single to left scored Barr, Norbut walked to load the bases, and White scored the Indians’ fifth run in rapid succession on a wild pitch before Cosby right fielder Olivia Bridges made a diving catch of a line drive to end the inning.

The damage was done. Try as they might, the Titans never recovered.

“Playing small ball in the beginning really helped us get going into the next innings,” said Moser, a senior third baseman. “We saw the ball really well. Once one person got a hit, it really got us going. It wasn’t just one person. It was definitely a team effort.”

The Titans (0-2-1) recorded their lone run in the fifth. Madison Perno led off with a single to left and ultimately scored on a throwing error.

In the bottom of the sixth, Moser walked, advanced on an infield out, and scored Powhatan’s final run when Narbut smacked a double to the wall in right centerfield.

Narbut, a righthander, pitched 4.2 innings, allowed four hits and no earned runs, struck out three and walked one. 

“I was throwing fastballs here and there, but I was mainly throwing screwballs,” said Narbut. “It sinks inside. It’s already starting inside over the plate. Then it spins inside. It causes them to get jammed.”

Danburg, a freshman, surrendered just two hits and struck out five in 2.2 innings of relief.

“She did great,” Narbut said. “It switched up what everyone was seeing: a different speed, a different spin. I was feeling great (pitching), and I felt great going out in right field too.”