Four home runs power Softball into 5C Regional Championship

Cabot Butts, Editor-in-Chief|June 1, 2023

Ian Hooks

Alejandra Wittman finished the game 2/3 at the plate, hitting a home run and line-drive double.

A massive Cavalier offensive performance lifted Softball over the Deep Run Wildcats, 9-1, on Wednesday, led by five runs batted in by juniors Jayla Adkins and Angie Rudolph in the fourth inning.

Angie Rudolph hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning. (Ian Hooks)

The Cavs got their offense started in the second inning, as sophomore Alejandra Wittman launched a ball over the left field fence to make the score 1-0. Following a one-two-three inning in the top of the third, the Cavaliers added to their lead when Adkins sent a two-run home run over the center field wall to extend the lead to three. 

Wittman came up big again, leading off the explosive fourth inning with a double. After sophomore Cameran Manning courtesy ran for Wittman, a wild pitch advanced her to third. A walk issued to junior Alyssa Thompson, a single by freshman Bri Miller, an RBI walk to Adkins, meant that the bases were loaded for Rudolph. On the first pitch of her at bat, Rudolph hit the ball over the left field fence for a grand slam. With one swing of the bat, Rudolph extended the lead to 8-0. 

Senior Angelina Branch led the Cavaliers to victory in the circle. She tossed all seven innings, surrendering only one earned run on three hits. Branch also struck out 12, including the sides in the first and sixth innings.

Angelina Branch tossed 12 strikeouts, and only allowed one earned run. (Ian Hooks)

Branch’s performance in the circle was enough for her to win the Cavalier Chronicle Player of the Game Award, alongside Wittman. Branch entered the top of the seventh inning only giving up one hit on the game before allowing two more base hits and a walk. Wittman went 2-3 at the plate including her solo home run in the second and her double. Wittman collected an RBI and scored a run. 

The Cavs then padded their lead with an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Thompson launched a moonshot over the right field wall to make the lead 9-0.

The Green and Gold will now prepare to play for a Region 5C championship against the Midlothian Trojans on June 2. However, with their win last night over the Wildcats, the Cavs have already clinched a position in the Class 5 State Championships, which begin on June 6. The Region 5C Championship game will take place at Mills Godwin High School.