Tretick’s slam propels Vikings to softball victory
By Carl Lukat
Loudoun Valley senior right fielder Logan Tretick blasted a grand slam over the right field fence in the home half of the second inning to lead the Vikings to a 5-2 victory over Osbourn in a Cedar Run District softball game May 2 in Purcellville.
Valley improved to 10-2 in the Cedar Run District and 13-2 overall with the win. Friday’s victory was the Vikings’ second against the Eagles this spring.
“That’s the way this district is. All of the teams are solid and it comes down to timely hitting,” Valley coach Joe Spicer said. “We hit the home run at the right spot.”
Junior Caroline Williams earned the complete-game win in the pitching circle after limiting Osbourn to single runs in the first and third innings. Williams struck out five and worked out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth to preserve the lead.
Junior third baseman Ashleigh Miller led off the sixth inning with a solo homer over the left field fence to provide the Vikings with an insurance run.
“Different kids have stepped up at different times,” Spicer said of his team’s recipe for success this season.
“I don’t know if we have any kid at any one spot that is great, but altogether they are a really solid team,” Spicer continued. “I think our real strength is there is not one person that you can worry about. It’s kind of hard to scout us because you don’t know who to look out for.”
Tretick made it her turn to step up Friday. Hailey Tretick and Shelby Wassman sandwiched singles around Williams’ walk to load the bases with no outs in the second. Logan Tretick walked up to the plate looking to make solid contact and the rest is a fond memory.
“I was focusing on getting a hit, swinging through the ball. I knew she was going to pitch me outside, so I just took it to right field,” said Logan Tretick, who learned from her dad after the game that was her 25th home run in organized softball.
“I knew right when I hit it, because it makes a solid sound,” Tretick continued. “It’s a great feeling.”
NOTE: Viking junior outfielder Hayley Grabner fractured her fibula in an April 18 game against Fauquier. Grabner could possibly return to the Viking lineup May 13 if the bone heals properly.