The Washington softball team started of the season in style as it rolled past future conference mates North Pitt 9-1 in Thursday’s season and home opener.
Pam Pack pitcher Rebekah Langston picked right up where she left off last season and fanned 13 batters in seven innings while allowing four hits and one earned run to get the win.
“She had some shoulder issues in the fall but tonight she threw all seven and she was strong,” Washington coach Doug Whitehead said. “Thirteen strikeouts is very good for the first full game of the season. It was very impressive.”
The Pack was impressive at the plate as well as the team racked up five runs in the first, two in the second and two in the fifth and totaled 12 hits against the Panthers.
“It’s always good to get an early lead,” Whitehead said. “It helps the pitcher a little bit and you can swing the bat a little bit more versus playing some small ball.”
Washington had a balanced attack at the plate as Kat Staton, Hailey Wright, Kaylee Jackson, Faith Benston and Allison Brantley each had two hits.
Benston led the Pack with two RBIs, while Jackson, Staton, Wright, Brantley and Cameron Dawson each had one.
“We had 12 hits in 30 at bats. That’s not a bad start to the season,” Whitehead said. “Benston has been swinging the bat good and has been real aggressive at the plate. We moved Haley Wright to the No. 4 position in the lineup and she was very productive. Kat Staton, we moved her to the No. 2 spot at the last second and she did an excellent job and had a single and a double in two at bats. We had a real good mix tonight.”