Raiders defend No.1 ranking in sweep of Class 3A No.4 Mount Vernon

WILLIAMSBURG— Jersey Metz delivered in more ways then one in a doubleheader sweep of Class 3A No.4 Mount Vernon Wednesday night.

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The Raider sophomore pitched the whole first game, dueling against one of the state’s best in Hayden Gookin, who came into last night with 133 strikeouts and a 0.37 ERA.

Metz also came in to relieve in the second game and, fittingly, hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to give the No.1 Raiders 7-1 and 11-9 victories over Mount Vernon.

“The beginning of the season was a struggle, but I’ve been gaining confidence and trusting my defense,” Metz said.

Plays were made all around by the Raider defense throughout both games.

In the first game of the night, Mount Vernon got on the board first.

A double from Addison Gookin got the Mustangs with a scoring threat in the top of the first and Kenna Rollinger drove in Gookin on an RBI single.

Williamsburg’s Alley Gorsh responded with an RBI double to tie it after one.

The Raiders scored six runs in a variety of ways in the bottom of the third.

With runners on second and third, Carly Rich delivered a successful infield bunt bringing in a run and making it to first safely.

In the next at-bat, Taylor Pitlick drove in a run. Gorsh brought in another on a bunt.

A sacfly and a two-RBI single from Kalon Spratt finished off the inning, making it 7-1 Raiders after three.

For much of the rest of the game, it was a pitching duel with a lot of ground outs and strikeouts with good defensive plays.

Raider first baseman Pitlick made a catch while almost doing the splits to get the last out in the top of the sixth to prevent the Mustangs from scoring when they had runners on second and third.

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Metz finished with a strikeout, ground out and fly out in the seventh to seal the game one victory.

“Jersey was great tonight, and she only allowed two hits after the first inning,” Raider head coach Adam Berte said.

“We executed and situationally bunted well too.”

Game two produced all a person could ask for in a top five matchup.

Rylee Rasmussen of Mount Vernon got things started with a solo home run in the top of the second.

Abbie Moss delivered an RBI single with no outs in the inning.

The Raiders then brought in Sloane Curtin to pitch.

“They were hitting off Alley well, which was a first this season,” Berte said.

The Mustangs added three more runs off an error to make it 5-0.

A slew of Mustang throwing errors gave the Raiders four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Taylor Sanchez hit an RBI double in the third to tie the game up after three.

As they did in the first game, the Raiders put on a bunting display in the bottom of the fourth.

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Three straight bunts set up a two-RBI single for Pitlick.

“With our speed, there is not a defense for it,” Berte said on his teams successful bunting.

Rasmussen delivered another HR for the Mustangs in the fifth, this time with a runner on base.

Sanchez responded with a home run of her own to give the Raiders the lead again after five.

Metz was then brought back in to pitch in the sixth.

“Sloane did a good job of stretching the game out for us,” Berte said.

The Mustangs loaded the bases with no outs.

Olivia Haverback delivered an RBI single, and a sacfly brought in another, giving the Mustangs a 9-8 lead.

With two outs, Carly Rich got on base via walk and stole second and was called safe on a close call.

Pitlick delivered again with an RBI single and it was all tied up heading to the seventh.

“Pitlick and Sanchez hit the ball really well tonight for us,” Berte said.

A ground out, strikeout, and flyout gave the Raiders a chance to win in walk-off fashion in the seventh.

Taylor Sanchez got on base with a double and brought Metz up to the plate.

Metz’s home run went high over the left field fence and the Raiders were victorious.

“Mount Vernon has always been a tough opponent for us, so that (home run) felt really good,” Metz said.

The Raiders and Mustangs both look primed to make deep postseason runs again this season, and who knows, they may see each other again.

“The way this team plays fits my coaching style, and I’m having a lot of fun,” Berte added.