It wasn’t always easy this year for Orange County sophomore Morgan Capaldo.
Head coach Doris Buzzell told the sophomore early that Jamie Anderson, another talented young player for the Hornets was going to get the nod at Capaldo’s position of choice, second base. But Buzzell needed Capaldo’s bat in the lineup and asked her to stay focused as a designated hitter.
She was never more focused than she was Wednesday as she ripped two doubles, including a go-ahead blast in the fifth inning that kickstarted a four-run frame that led Orange to a 6-2 victory over Franklin County in the Northwest Region semifinals. With the win, the Hornets clinch a Group AAA tournament berth.
“There were a lot of times where I struck out three times and didn’t have any hits,” Capaldo said. “It was just hard but games like this kept me going. (The Franklin County pitcher) was pitching me where I really like it.”
It was a genuinely special moment for Capaldo and Buzzell, and when Franklin called time after the hit, the head coach sprinted from the third base box and embraced the sophomore hitter.
“She’s a good little ballplayer and you want to get her in the game,” Buzzell said. “I told her just hang in there and be a designated hitter and I said ‘you’ve got to stick with it I’m going to need you to hit’ and she did it.”
Capaldo’s work at the plate only mattered because Aysha Richardson was absolutely lights out in the circle. The Virginia Tech-bound senior struck out 13 against Franklin and after surrendering a pair of third inning runs, shut the Eagles out for the final four innings. Richardson gave up just two total hits. It allowed Richardson, a factor for the Hornets since her freshman season, to complete a long sought-after goal of getting to the state tournament after years of falling short.
“This is great, to actually get here and with our young group too,” Richardson said. “That’s what makes it so exciting because we’re so young.”
The Hornets have five sophomores and two freshmen on the 12-player roster. Despite Richardson’s prowess in the circle, Buzzell was nervous about facing the hard-hitting Eagles with that young lineup.
“I knew (Franklin) was a good hitting team,” Buzzell said. “I was scared, but Aysha did an awesome job, she’s come through.”
Anderson followed Capaldo’s blast with a double of her own and Kaitlyn Johnson singled home another run and then scored herself to blow the game open. Alexis Williams tied the game up at 2-2 with an RBI single in the fourth to set the stage for Capaldo’s heroics as the bottom of the order got the job done for Orange County. No. 2 hitter Ashleigh Williams also had a big night at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a trio of singles.
Orange moves on to take on Osbourn Friday on the road, and with a victory would clinch a home game in the Group AAA quarterfinals next week.
