All tourney team includes,(L to R) Susie Rhodes, Heather Pearson
The Lady Cardinal Softball team traveled to Richmond and teamed with Northern Virginia rivals Paul VI and St. Stephens/Saint Agnes to win the First Annual North vs. South Softball Challenge against Collegiate, St Catherine’s and Brunswick Academy representing the state’s southern schools. Ireton split a Saturday double header, defeating Collegiate 12-2 in five innings before losing a close game to Brunswick Academy 4-3.
In game one, Ireton jumped out to a quick 4-0 first inning lead on a pair of doubles by Sarah Howell and Clara Boggs and a triple by Heather Pearson. The hot bats continued in the second inning with singles by Pearson and Megan Sullivan combined with a Susie Rhodes double pushing the lead to 6 runs. Kathleen Walsh also picked up a hit and the squad played error free defense behind Rhodes and her 8 strikeouts as the team cruised to the 12-2, 10-run rule final.
A five inning victory allowed junior pitcher Susie Rhodes to return to pitch the second game of the double header as the red birds faced a talented Brunswick Academy team. Playing small ball, Brunswick jumped out to a quick 2-run lead in the first. Ireton answered in the third when Maggie Coyle raced home from first on a Heather Pearson triple. Brunswick Academy answered with their next at bat, putting up 2 more runs and a three run lead. Ireton came back in the 5th with singles by Maria Manzek, Clara Boggs, Susie Rhodes, and Megan Sullivan cutting the lead to 4-3 but would get no closer.
Susie Rhodes pitched 12 strong innings over the afternoon, recording 15 strikeouts. Heather Pearson went 6 for 8 at the plate including 2 triples and a double. The two juniors and classmate Megan Sullivan were named to the all-tournament team.
“The girls played very well,” commented head coach Terri Pearson, “It was great to see the team fight back in that second game after getting behind early.” The Cardinals are scheduled to travel to Seton on Monday afternoon and host Holy Cross at Luckett field on Wednesday before heading to Myrtle Beach for a five-game tournament over spring break.
Game 1 BI vs Collegiate
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
| M. Sullivan | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Coyle | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| H. Pearson | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Rhodes | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Boggs | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Walsh | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Howell | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Reilly | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Manzek | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Kammen | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 29 | 13 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
2B: H. Pearson, S. Rhodes 2, C. Boggs, S. Howell
3B: H. Pearson
TB: M. Sullivan 2, H. Pearson 7, S. Rhodes 6, C. Boggs 4, K. Walsh 2, S. Howell 2
RBI: M. Coyle, H. Pearson 2, S. Rhodes 2, C. Boggs 4, K. Walsh, S. Howell
SAC: M. Coyle
ROE: C. Boggs, K. Reilly
FC: M. Coyle
HBP: M. Sullivan
Game 2 BI vs Brunswick Academy
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
| M. Sullivan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Coyle | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| H. Pearson | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Rhodes | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| C. Boggs | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| K. Walsh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| S. Howell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| K. Reilly | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| M. Manzek | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 27 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
3B: H. Pearson
TB: M. Sullivan, H. Pearson 4, S. Rhodes, C. Boggs, M. Manzek
RBI: H. Pearson, S. Rhodes 2
FC: H. Pearson
SB: H. Pearson
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