Veale tosses perfect game for Hatchets
Todd Lancaster, Sports Editor | Friday, May 11, 2007 11:39 am
If Kendra Veale ever wondered just how well she could pitch, then a quick viewing of the Barr-Reeve-Washington gametape might give her a pretty good indication.
Veale tossed a perfect game, mowing down all 21 Lady Vikings she faced on Thursday at the Sports Complex.
“She pitched a heck of a game and we gave her the game ball after the game,” said WHS coach Alan Lemon. “She got a little high on her curve ball a few times. But for the most part she kept it right there.”
B-R coach Bret Graber also felt it was a well-played game, and feels like B-R had some chances in spit of an outstanding performance from Veale.
“I felt like this game was right there for us, like so many others have been this year, but an error there, an unearned run and… But I give Kendra a lot of credit, we beat her last year and she worked hard this last year, got her game up and pitched very well. I was very impressed with her and Washington’s well-coached team,” said Graber.
“This is a good game for us as we get ready for sectional.”
Veale struck out nine, but also helped herself at the plate with an RBI on a day when runs would be in short supply.
Veale was not the only pitcher who put forth a monumental effort on the rubber. Barr-Reeve’s Robin Letterman also gave up just one earned run and picked up six strikeouts of her own.
“Robin had a nice outing, but we just didn’t get her any help,” added Graber.
The Hatchets (5-14) threatened twice in the first three innings, twice stranding two runners on.
It appeared like Kiersten Hinkle’s lead-off double would be wasted as well in the fourth, but a two-out error pushed Hinkle across as Amber Criswell reached to make it 1-0.
The Hatchets then picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.
Jessica Hall singled, moved to second on a sacrifice from Audra Myers and then scored on a Veale single.
From that point it was all Veale and her defense.
WHS got several nice plays at short from Hall and first baseman Michelle Hulsey, along with a nice catch late in the game from Hinkle in right and Criswell at second.
“They all played well and performed pretty well tonight,” said Lemon. “This is the way that we have to play to win. We can’t make mistakes and we can’t make mental mistakes.
“These three seniors (Hulsey, Criswell and Brooke Reed) are all working hard. Everyone is working hard right now.”
Other Hatchets who got hits were Hulsey in the first and Myers in the third. Hall reach all three times she came to bat.