Katie O’Connor was feeling it Thursday night.
In the circle? At the plate?
Wherever Monticello softball’s sophomore pitcher lined up, she made an impact against Fluvanna County as O’Connor threw her first career no-hitter while striking out 17 batters in a 1-0 win over the Flucos. O’Connor helped herself out at the plate with a fifth-inning RBI that held up as the game-winner in a tightly-contested pitcher’s duel with Fluvanna’s Calista Marsh.
“Katie showed really good command and composure throughout the game, which can be a huge challenge when you know so many of the opponents’ hitters,” said Monticello coach Heidi Freitager. “She did a great job attacking them and getting swings and misses in different parts of the zone.”
O’Connor allowed just three walks in the no-hitter and also hit a double as part of a 2-for-3 night at the plate, helping the Mustangs bounce back from a narrow 3-2 loss to Orange earlier this week to pick up a crucial victory with reigon tournament implications.
“Both pitchers had really good games and it was a lot of fun to watch them work,” Freitager said.
Marsh went six innings and allowed just four hits and one walk. Freshmen Kaitlyn Wills and Samantha Deitsch hit doubles for the Mustangs, but Marsh kept snuffing out chances as Monticello left five on base. That was thanks in part from some big defensive plays by the Flucos’ Brooke Napier and Jenna Carel according to Freitager.
“Fluvanna’s always been a tough game for us,” Freitager said. “They’re always loaded with kids because they have such a big development program there.”
The two squads will square off in a rematch next Thursday, but Monticello will host Western Albemarle Tuesday night before that Thursday clash.
