FORT WALTON BEACH – Aside from District 2-6A implications, Niceville’s 14-0 win over Choctaw Tuesday was noteworthy for several reasons.
First off, Christina Ramirez returned to the mound for the first time since suffering a neck injury in the Eagles’ 5-4 win at Fort Walton Beach on Feb. 15.
And there were no signs of rust.
Commanding the zone and putting trust in her infield to make routine plays, the right-handed junior struck out two, allowed just one hit and faced the minimum over three scoreless frames.
“One of the biggest things for us was getting Christina Ramirez back,” said Niceville head coach Danny Hensley, whose top-ranked squad improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in district play. “She pulled a muscle in the Fort Walton game and this was her first appearance since then and I thought she looked good. Obviously getting her back adds some depth to our bullpen.”
Sidelined with a torn ACL last year, Ramirez was understandably excited to finally be at full strength.
“I’m so happy, liking coming off of an injury last year and then coming back and then this other thing happening, I was like ‘oh, man,’” Ramirez said. “But I feel so much better.”
Turning over the shutout to Aja Brechtel, who struck out four and allowed just a hit over the final two frames, Ramirez said three innings was enough to get her feet wet.
“I was ready to go more, but it’s probably good to get me out of there and get me rested,” she said. “Everything felt great.”
Helping her comfort level was an offense that pounded out 13 hits, drew nine free passes and had 13 batters reach base safely as a part of an effort that produced six runs in the first, one in the second, five in third and two in the fourth.
And at the heart of that hit parade was Alex Brunson, who appears to have fulfilled Hensley’s search for a table-setter in the leadoff spot.
Reaching base safely in all five trips, including a single to left to kickstart a six-run first inning, Brunson went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.
“We’re still tinkering with it a bit, but we tried Alex Brunson in the leadoff spot and she looked good,” Hensley said. “We’ve been looking for our stage-setter and I thought she showed us something there tonight so we may leave her there for a little while longer.”
Asked about her new role, a position in the lineup typically filled by speedsters, Brunson said it will take some getting used to.
“It was weird,” Brunson said. “Honestly I think I’m going to have to get used to it. I’m normally a power hitter. I’m a four, five or six spot, so it was weird going into it.”
Brunson’s banner night was one of many for the Eagles, who worked the count against Choctaw starter Cheyenne Cohen and reliever Anjelica Johnson. Cohen lasted only two innings, giving up 12 runs – 10 earned – on 10 hits, five walks and a hit batsman to earn the loss. Johnson, meanwhile, fared better, giving up three hits, three walks and two earned runs over three frames.
“I thought we showed great discipline tonight, waiting for a good pitch to hit,” Hensley said. “Obviously, there’s a reason for the hits and walks – we didn’t chase many bad pitches.”
Ramirez helped her own cause with two hits, including a three-run double in the third, and Jessie Mullen also had three RBIs on two hits. Libby Davis chipped in a two-hit, RBI effort and Kaylan Davis drove in a pair of runs.
Committing just one error, the Eagles’ defense also shined in a setting that Hensley described as another important subplot in the win.
“It’s good to get an opportunity to come over here especially because this is where the district tournament will be,” Hensley said. “The infield’s a little different than ours, so this gave us an opportunity to get some experience and field some ground balls in this environment.”
While aware of its No. 1 ranking, a ranking befitting of a program that has made three consecutive trips to the state championship, according to Ramirez the Eagles are just taking it a game at time.
“I don’t think there’s any focus on going undefeated or a title, it’s just playing every game, every pitch at a time,” she said. “We try not to focus on anything else.”
And Brunson believes the team’s focus extends to practice, where the Eagles set themselves apart.
“We practice harder than anybody so we should play better than anybody, honestly,” she said.
Ramirez, Brunson shine in Niceville's shutout over Choctaw
Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 22:59 PM.
FORT WALTON BEACH – Aside from District 2-6A implications, Niceville’s 14-0 win over Choctaw Tuesday was noteworthy for several reasons.
First off, Christina Ramirez returned to the mound for the first time since suffering a neck injury in the Eagles’ 5-4 win at Fort Walton Beach on Feb. 15.
And there were no signs of rust.
Commanding the zone and putting trust in her infield to make routine plays, the right-handed junior struck out two, allowed just one hit and faced the minimum over three scoreless frames.
“One of the biggest things for us was getting Christina Ramirez back,” said Niceville head coach Danny Hensley, whose top-ranked squad improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in district play. “She pulled a muscle in the Fort Walton game and this was her first appearance since then and I thought she looked good. Obviously getting her back adds some depth to our bullpen.”
Sidelined with a torn ACL last year, Ramirez was understandably excited to finally be at full strength.
“I’m so happy, liking coming off of an injury last year and then coming back and then this other thing happening, I was like ‘oh, man,’” Ramirez said. “But I feel so much better.”
Turning over the shutout to Aja Brechtel, who struck out four and allowed just a hit over the final two frames, Ramirez said three innings was enough to get her feet wet.
“I was ready to go more, but it’s probably good to get me out of there and get me rested,” she said. “Everything felt great.”
Helping her comfort level was an offense that pounded out 13 hits, drew nine free passes and had 13 batters reach base safely as a part of an effort that produced six runs in the first, one in the second, five in third and two in the fourth.
And at the heart of that hit parade was Alex Brunson, who appears to have fulfilled Hensley’s search for a table-setter in the leadoff spot.
Reaching base safely in all five trips, including a single to left to kickstart a six-run first inning, Brunson went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.
“We’re still tinkering with it a bit, but we tried Alex Brunson in the leadoff spot and she looked good,” Hensley said. “We’ve been looking for our stage-setter and I thought she showed us something there tonight so we may leave her there for a little while longer.”
Asked about her new role, a position in the lineup typically filled by speedsters, Brunson said it will take some getting used to.
“It was weird,” Brunson said. “Honestly I think I’m going to have to get used to it. I’m normally a power hitter. I’m a four, five or six spot, so it was weird going into it.”
Brunson’s banner night was one of many for the Eagles, who worked the count against Choctaw starter Cheyenne Cohen and reliever Anjelica Johnson. Cohen lasted only two innings, giving up 12 runs – 10 earned – on 10 hits, five walks and a hit batsman to earn the loss. Johnson, meanwhile, fared better, giving up three hits, three walks and two earned runs over three frames.
“I thought we showed great discipline tonight, waiting for a good pitch to hit,” Hensley said. “Obviously, there’s a reason for the hits and walks – we didn’t chase many bad pitches.”
Ramirez helped her own cause with two hits, including a three-run double in the third, and Jessie Mullen also had three RBIs on two hits. Libby Davis chipped in a two-hit, RBI effort and Kaylan Davis drove in a pair of runs.
Committing just one error, the Eagles’ defense also shined in a setting that Hensley described as another important subplot in the win.
“It’s good to get an opportunity to come over here especially because this is where the district tournament will be,” Hensley said. “The infield’s a little different than ours, so this gave us an opportunity to get some experience and field some ground balls in this environment.”
While aware of its No. 1 ranking, a ranking befitting of a program that has made three consecutive trips to the state championship, according to Ramirez the Eagles are just taking it a game at time.
“I don’t think there’s any focus on going undefeated or a title, it’s just playing every game, every pitch at a time,” she said. “We try not to focus on anything else.”
And Brunson believes the team’s focus extends to practice, where the Eagles set themselves apart.
“We practice harder than anybody so we should play better than anybody, honestly,” she said.
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