Rams beat Cougars on consecutive days

By Robert Edmonds -- sports@nvdaily.com

STRASBURG -- The Rams faced Manassas Park for the second time in as many nights Friday in girls softball action. Behind another solid performance from pitcher Lauren Stickles, Strasburg's offense came alive and the Rams comfortably defeated the Cougars 9-2.

"They just outplayed us," Manassas Park coach Gerry Campbell said. "Our game is to play good fundamental ball and tonight we didn't play smart. We lost to them 4-0 [Thursday] night and we needed to focus on tonight, but we just didn't come to play."

Strasburg fell behind in the third inning after Stickles loaded the bases and opposing pitcher Angie Oliver drove in a run to help her own cause. Unfortunately for the Cougars, it would be the only time that Stickles struggled.

"Lauren works hard and keeps getting better," Strasburg coach Suzanne Mathias said. "She has been able to keep batters off-balance and keep them guessing. When you can do that, you're going to be successful."

"They have a great pitcher who doesn't give up many hits or make many mistakes," Campbell said. "She pitched her guts out [Thursday] night and again tonight. We didn't make the adjustments, and when you don't do that it comes back to get you."

After shutting down the Rams' offense for the first three innings, Oliver got in trouble in the fourth as Strasburg batted around and took control.

An opposite-field double from Lindsey Dean started the rally. Brooklyn Rush followed with a double of her own to score Dean. Two batters later, a single to left by Allyson Ponn scored Rush as the Rams surged ahead with two outs. After another single and a walk, the Rams had the bases loaded with Stickles at the plate.

Stickles smashed the pitch from Oliver to center field off the fence, just inches short of a grand slam. Three runs scored on the play, extending the Rams' lead to 7-2 before an infield fly by Bethany Doman ended the inning.

"The way we hit tonight was a huge boost to our team's confidence," Stickles said. "We showed we have the potential to hit well against good pitchers. It was good that we were able to keep our energy and come to play two days in a row and get the wins against them."

Ponn added an RBI double and finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

"I've been able to make contact lately and get on base," Ponn said. "I just wanted to do my best to hit and help the team. We have worked a lot on hitting this year and I think tonight we proved to ourselves what we are capable of doing."

It doesn't often occur that two teams face each other on consecutive nights in high school sports. With a schedule that has been rearranged several times due to the weather this spring, the Rams were challenged with the task, and Mathias was proud of the way her team responded.

"Whenever you play a team back-to-back it is extremely important to stay focused from the first game to the second," Mathias said. "We knew this was a new game and last night was behind us. The girls did a great job of coming back and played solid. Manassas Park is a team that can easily put it to you and we did a good job against them."