Relief pitcher Sloane Curtin sparks 3A No. 1 Williamsburg in sweep of CPU

WILLIAMSBURG — Chalk Sloane Curtin up for a win in relief Monday night.

And if Williamsburg goes on to win the Wamac Conference West Division crown again, you can give her somewhat of a save, as well.

With the Class 3A top-ranked Raiders trailing early in the nightcap of Monday’s Wamac twinbill with Center Point-Urbana, Curtin pitched six innings of one-hit, shutout ball, and they went on to pick up the sweep, 3-0 and 10-3, at Jim Turner Field.

Simply put, the sophomore reliever was fantastic.

“She was amazing,” shortstop Carly Rich said. “I’ve never seen her throw so well. She kept them off-balance, and that was great for us.”

Monday’s outcome kept the Raiders (20-4 overall, 14-1 Wamac) a step in front of challengers Benton Community and Clear Creek Amana in the West Division race.

“There aren’t many easy nights in this league, and these were two good ones to get,” Williamsburg Coach Adam Berte said.

Center Point-Urbana (10-12, 7-9) scored a pair of runs in the first inning of the nightcap, then had the Raiders in a bit of a bind in the top of the second.

Paige Crock opened the frame with a double, then Gracie Hoskins’ RBI single put the Stormin’ Pointers in front, 3-2.

Berte summoned Curtin, and that was curtains for the CPU offense for the remainder of the evening.

“I warmed up before the game along with (Game 2 starter) Alley (Gorsh), and I was ready,” said Curtin, who improved to 3-1. “I just go in, ready to play. I’m always ready to play.”

Curtin faced 20 batters, and retired 18 of them, including the final 11.

Eleven of the 18 outs were pop-ups and flyouts, indicating success in keeping the ball high.

“I like having Sloane in relief,” Berte said. “She’s a contrast to our other pitchers. I know she’s going to be ready to go. I like her coming off the bench.”

Meanwhile, the Raiders took control with two runs in the third, two in the fourth and four in the sixth. In each of those rallies, a CPU error was key.

Jersey Metz (12-3) blanked the Stormin’ Pointers in the opener on four hits.

Gorsh squeezed Rich home for the Raiders’ first run, in the third inning. In the fifth, an error accounted for one run, and Baylie Von Ahsen’s single chased home another.

Rich was 3-of-4 in the opener. CPU’s Mya Hillers homered in Game 2.

Williamsburg 3-10, Center Point-Urbana 0-3

At Williamsburg

Game 1

Center Point-Urbana 000 000 0 — 0 4 3

Williamsburg 001 020 x — 3 9 1

Mya Hillers and Gracie Hoskins. Jersey Metz and Ashlynn Fuhrman. W — Metz (12-3). L — Hillers (6-4).

Game 2

Center Point-Urbana 210 000 0 — 3 5 3

Williamsburg 202 240 x — 10 9 0

Ella Simon, Maranda Pollock (5) and Gracie Hoskins. Alley Gorsh, Sloane Curtin (2) and Lilly Ness. W — Curtin (3-1). L — Simon (3-6). HR — CPU: Mya Hillers (4).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com