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New Kent has tough task ahead
By norm wood | nwood@dailypress.com

RADFORD - After Poquoson’s softball team lost 3-0 Tuesday to Broad Run in the Group AA state tournament quarterfinals, Islanders coach Todd Bowden felt compelled to share what he had learned.

He fired off an urgent e-mail to New Kent coach Betsey Lane, whose team probably was destined to meet Broad Run (28-0) if the Trojans reached today’s championship game at 10 a.m. in Radford. New Kent is in the title game, and to nobody’s surprise, so is Broad Run.

The general idea of Bowden’s e-mail wasn’t complicated.

Be afraid, be very afraid of Broad Run pitcher Caitlyn Delahaba.

"New Kent is only going to have one or two chances to score off this girl," Bowden said. "She’s just really good. She’s as good as advertised. I also think (Broad Run) is only going to have a few chances on (New Kent’s Becca) Mills. Whoever scores first is obviously going to have an advantage. I really think New Kent can win, but it’s going to be a great game."

Delahaba (28-0), a junior right-hander, appears to be peaking at the right time. She has given up six earned runs all season, including two in the postseason, and has struck out 327 batters. That’s 110 more than Mills (25-3, 0.40 ERA) has struck out in exactly the same number of games. Delahaba struck out 19 and gave up two hits in Friday’s 1-0 nine-inning semifinal win against Tunstall.

"I think that it’s good for us to get a tough game like (the one against Tunstall) before the championship," Delahaba said. "That was the bottom of our order that won us that game, so that was good to see. It gives us a lot of confidence going into (today’s) game.

"I know being a pitcher everybody kind of looks at you anyway, so it’s not really any added pressure. Everybody kind of already expects you to play well."

Confidence doesn’t seem to be something Delahaba lacks in the circle. She throws a riseball that tempts hitters to swing wildly, but her most intimidating pitch is a screwball that bears in on batters. Bowden’s players experienced her screwball Tuesday, with uninspiring results.

"You have to stand in there because she’s not afraid to come in on your hands," Bowden said. "I e-mailed Betsey and told her if (Delahaba) throws that screwball, just lean in and take one for the team because she’s not afraid to come inside and that might be your best chance (against her screwball)."

New Kent (25-3) got a sneak preview of Delahaba after the Trojans dispatched Virginia High of Bristol. Broad Run, which is ranked No. 6 in USA Today’s national rankings, played Tunstall after the New Kent-Virginia game.

Shortstop Anush Mooradian, who leads New Kent with six home runs, said she and her teammates couldn’t pick up much about Broad Run in a few limited innings of exposure, but they did learn from Tunstall.

"We need to lay off the riseball," said Mooradian, who was the Region I player of the year. "That’s what Tunstall couldn’t do. I think after seeing (Lafayette pitcher) Katie Bruce this season we’ll be ready for the riseball.

"I don’t really get nervous for games anymore. I’ve been to so many showcases and national tournaments all over the place where you’re playing in front of college coaches, just like a lot of us have, that this kind of game doesn’t feel much different. It’s going to be fun."