Hillsdale's Eryn McCoy took part in a 5 a.m. World War I re-enactment Tuesday at Hillsdale High. Then she put another softball victory in the history books, helping to defeat visiting Half Moon Bay 4-2.
McCoy allowed six hits, struck out two and walked nobody in nudging the Knights (4-4, 2-1) ahead of the Cougars (6-2, 1-1) in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay race.
"She's been up since 5 in the morning, doing this school-wide thing," Hillsdale coach Randy Matheany said. "I wish I would have known that because I might not have even thrown her today. I thought she battled well; she didn't have her best stuff. Her velocity is usually much better than that. But I think for a freshman -- she's only 15 -- she gutted it out against a good team."
Matheany has coached good young pitchers before, including Maureen Brady (older sister of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady), who as a junior led the 1990 Hillsdale team to the mythical state title, along with sisters Nancy (freshman catcher) and Julie (sophomore shortstop).
"I don't care how old you are -- if you're a seventh grader and you can play and you're enrolled in the school, I'll play you," said Matheany, the former Hillsdale multi-sport star.
Said McCoy: "I'm pretty tired now. I knew I could handle it. I just needed to stay up and make sure I ate and was on top of my game."
Hillsdale took a 1-0 lead in the first on Courtney Tyler's run-scoring double.
The Knights added another run in the second inning on a double by Kelli Miller and an infield error.
Half Moon Bay tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth by Harlee Donovan and an RBI single by Olivia Hedding in the fifth. Hedding's hit was preceded by a triple to left field by Emma Alaimo.
But two more unearned runs in the fifth eventually stood up for the victory for Hillsdale.
"We made too many errors, especially for playing on a turf field," HMB coach Deanne Tower said.
HMB pitcher Lyndsay Klimenko, who struck out 17 in a 7-0 victory against Terra Nova in the PAL-Bay opener, deserved a better fate. She allowed three hits, struck out five and walked five, but two key errors did her in.
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John Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com.
