Gretna’s Dalton blanks William Campbell

By Ted Allen

Published: May 7, 2008

GRETNA — Throughout Katina Brooks’ four seasons as coach of Gretna’s softball team, the Hawks have had excellent pitching and solid defense, but not enough run production to keep them competitive in the Dogwood District.
This spring, they are a more dangerous animal with a balanced lineup to complement their steady defense, as they demonstrated in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over William Campbell.
“Every year we struggle with the bats,” said Gretna pitcher Teresa Dalton, a fourth-year starter who struck out seven in the four-hit shutout. “We’ve have good defense, but not the batting we need to win. This year, we step up to the plate with an open mind and look to drive the ball.”
And they delivered, even against William Campbell ace Amber Marstin, tagging her for six hits, four in a three-run third.
“Right now, we’re hitting the ball exceptionally well,” Brooks said. “Amber came out firing the ball today (but) we have confidence in all of them. On any given night, anyone can come up and produce.”
The win was the second in as many tries for the Hawks (9-4, 8-1) against the defending Dogwood and Group A state champion Generals (10-3, 7-2). It moves them into sole possession of first place in the standings.
“It feels great,” leadoff hitter Ceseley Haynes said. “It gives us a little more confidence.”
“We control our own destiny,” Brooks added.
William Campbell coach Chris Smith knew Gretna and Altavista were the two teams to beat in the district this season, with all three featuring a top-notch pitcher. The advantage the Hawks have this year is their experience backing Dalton up.
“Obviously, they’ve got a very good team,” he said. “They’ve got six or seven seniors that have played together for three or four years and that makes a difference when you can carry them over from year to year.
“They hit the ball well really throughout the game,” he added. “We made some catches on some, but they’re a good hitting team.”
Eighth batter Cheryl Crews sparked the attack, leading off the Hawks’ third with a double to the fence in left center. Crews and ninth batter Sarah Scruggs, who reached on an error after her bunt, then scored on a double to left by Haynes (3-for-3).
“This was probably my best hitting game,” said Haynes, who missed the first meeting William Campbell on a recruiting trip to Virginia Tech. “The third inning was a big inning for us.”
Dalton may have been more masterful in the first meeting between the two teams, which she won 3-1 in 10 innings.
“Last game, I had more strikeouts because I threw my curveball more,” she said.
“This time, they were looking for it and were crowding the plate.”
She hit William Campbell No. 3 batter Rasheeda Crews with a pitch on the fists in the sixth before Jessica Reamy singled to load the bases for Marstin. Like Crews, she stood close to the plate and hit an inside pitch off her shin down the third-base line.
It was ruled in play, much to Smith’s displeasure, and third baseman Raquel Martin got the force out at home before Dalton fanned Keandra Walthall for the third time to end the threat.
“They had the bases loaded with only one out and we came out of that inning without them scoring,” Dalton said. “That really got us fired up.”