Softball: Cougars' Run Ends in First Round of States

Though the Oakton High softball team ended its season with a 6-1 loss to Cosby High School in the AAA Virginia High School League tournament on Tuesday, the Cougars feel they can look back on the 2012 season with pride.

Despite a fourth-place finish in the Northern Region last year, the Cougars had few people outside of their own team hold high expectations for their season. 

"I think people thought we got on a lucky streak last year or that it was all Allison [Davis]," said Coach Ray Gordon, referring to his sophomore pitching phenom who racked up 200 strikeouts this season. "I knew better. We expected to go far this year. We had our eyes on a state title."

Their season ended Tuesday after defensive mistakes led to a 6-1 loss to Cosby High School in the first round of the state tournament.

The Cougars left five runners on base over seven innings, scoring their only run in the last inning: Emily Krisanda hit a triple, then pitcher threw the ball out of play before the umpire called the ball dead, which allowed Krisanda to advance a base.

"In true Oakton softball fashion, we still scored in the last inning. They never gave up," Gordon said. "That's what I love the most about these girls. They fought until the end."

The Cougars came close to scoring in the fifth inning after Hayley French was hit by a pitch, and Alana Peters hit a fielder's choice in which French was called safe at second. Then, on an Angie Noviello groundball to shortstop, French and the shortstop collided. The umpire first called French safe at third, but then reversed his call to interference for an out.

In the Northern Region Championship with a much tighter score, a controversial call from the umps helped the Stone Bridge Bulldogs come from behind to win the title in the seventh inning. 

"It's two games in a row where we had some close calls that didn't go our way, which could have made a difference in the outcome. And it's also the first time we've lost two straight games this season," Gordon said. 

Regardless, Gordon is effusive in his praise for the 2012 squad as he mourned the end of the season.

"It's heartbreaking that we lost, but more heartbreaking that it's over. I'm so close with these girls," Gordon said. "The part that hurts the most is not being able to wake up and go to practice to see them."

This year's senior co-captains — Emily Corridon, Mandy Krage and Hayley French — helped lobby to get Gordon the head coach position after eight years as an assistant. 

"Those seniors have been through Oakton not being a good team to being one of the top six teams in the state," Gordon said. "None of that's on me, it's all them. They were great leaders and motivators for the team."

Gordon also recognizes how the hard work of this year's squad has improved the reputation of the Oakton softball program.

"When it's all said and done, as much as it hurts, we had a phenomenal year," Gordon said. "There are only four teams left playing in the state. There are 30-something teams in our region who didn't get to play this week. Now everybody knows Oakton is a force to be reckoned with when they play us."