Pittsfield's Perkett Gets 100th Hit in Win over Wahconah
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- When Britney Perkett slapped a base hit to the left side of the infield in her second at-bat on Tuesday, it gave her 100 career hits and fulfilled a goal she has been chasing for some time.
She just was not sure that she had done it.
“Not necessarily, no, just because I thought it was an error,” Perkett said. “I didn't see the whole thing, but I did see it tip off someone's glove, so I didn't consider it really a hit.”
It did go off a glove -- the glove of diving Wahconah third baseman Hailey Lenski -- but it was clearly an infield single, Perkett’s second of the game.
It also led to the first run of Pittsfield’s 6-0 win as the Generals improved to 5-0 on the young season.
Perkett later added her third hit of the game -- and 101st of her high school career -- with a bunt single in the bottom of the sixth.
“It felt good [to get the third hit],” she said. “I knew I needed it just for reassurance and to feel good about it. It was nice.”
Perkett finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Madison Tobin also went 3-for-4, and Hayley Tobin had a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs.
Giulianna Pierce struck out 11 and allowed just four hits in a complete-game victory.
Perkett said she thought about the milestone at the beginning of the game but quickly put it out of her mind and focused on the task at hand, knocking off a perennial Berkshire County rival and keeping an unbeaten season going.
That said, the milestone was nice to have.
“It's a big accomplishment,” Perkett said. “Ever since I knew about it, it's something I've wanted to accomplish. And I'm excited and happy that I've finally gotten to that point.”
Pittsfield coach Greg Marchbanks said that Perkett’s dedication to the sport and willingness to commit to a style of play that suits her have allowed her to consistently produce at the plate.
“She loves the game,” Marchbanks said. “She loves playing this game. She's going to go on and play college. She wants to keep doing the best she can for this team. She plays all summer.
“She's gotten better and better, and since she's gone to the left side permanently, she's really gotten good because now she's fully invested in slapping and bunting or swinging. She can do three different things from that side, and it causes havoc because no one knows how to play it.”
Perkett said hitting from that side of the dish suits her skill set.
“I think my speed led me in that direction because it really helps a lot being left-handed with good speed and being able to do hits, slaps, bunts, all that,” she said.
Her speed led to the only run Pittsfield needed on Tuesday.
After leading off the third with that milestone hit, she stole second. Then she raced home on Hayley Tobin’s single to short center field.
Pittsfield added single runs in the fourth and fifth on a Natasha Shade RBI single and an error that allowed Madison Tobin to score by second.
“We hadn't seen [Wahconah pitcher Abby] Wells, and she's from the left side, so it's a different spin,” Marchbanks said. “It took a while to adjust, but the girls started coming around and putting the ball in play harder and harder each inning. That puts pressure on people.
“The top of our order, with our speed, always makes things crazy for everyone.”
In the sixth, Pittsfield scored three thanks to hits from Perkett and Clary and two Wahconah errors.
Wells finished with a pair of strikeouts and went 1-for-2 with a walk at the plate. Wahconah also got hits from Jess Warren, Emma Parkington and Jess Duma.
Pierce pitched out of jams in the early going, leaving two runners on base in the first and third innings. She finished by retiring the last 12 batters she faced.
“When she hits her spots, it doesn't matter who she's facing,” Marchbanks said. “She's going to do well. She keeps us in every game.”
Pittsfield hosts Chicopee on Friday.
Wahconah (2-2) hosts Hoosac Valley on Thursday.