Sadie Messer jogged out to the pitcher's circle to start the bottom of the seventh inning with Pisgah softball leading by five runs. But Messer was feeling fatigued after throwing over 100 pitches and going to the emergency room earlier that day.
Catcher Addie Foust met Messer in the circle after finishing their warmup routine. Foust encouraged Messer despite her troubles earlier in the day.
“I just said that she was doing a great job and that she needs to keep on going,” Foust said. “And that she’s good.”
Messer earned a quick flyout and struck out the next two batters to secure the 8-3 victory over Enka on April 24.
She helped Pisgah finish the victory against one of the best teams in Western North Carolina. Messer also collected 14 strikeouts while allowing seven hits, two walks and three runs with only one earned despite leaving school for the emergency room because of a nosebleed that wouldn’t stop for hours.
Messer's first thought before leaving was about her status to play later that day.
“The game was all I was worried about,” Messer said. “I just really wanted to play.”
Foust was scared when she first saw Messer leave for the ER.
“But I knew in the back of my mind that she was going to be there,” Foust said.
The nosebleed stopped about two hours after starting, and doctors sent Messer home. Even though the nosebleed was finished, Messer still felt drained.
But she still wanted to play, so she showed up for the game in Candler.
Coach Heidi Morgan asked Messer if she was ready when she saw her at Enka. Messer told her that she felt good and was available if needed.
When Messer arrived, Foust also made sure she knew the team was behind her.
“We just tried to assure that our defense, that we’re going to back her up,” Foust said. “And that she had nothing to worry about. Just throw it.”
Then the game started. Messer threw 84 strikes to just 43 balls.
Her best pitch, a curveball that broke at the last second, was working in her favor.
Because of her breaking ball and effectiveness in throwing strikes, Messer finished with 14 strikeouts.
“She kept them off balance,” Morgan said. “Really worked down in the zone. Was able to change up her speeds consistently.”
WEEK 10 TOP PERFORMERS: Led by Sadie Jo Hunter's 13 strikeouts, two home runs
The 14 strikeouts were the second most an opposing pitcher has recorded against Enka this season. North Buncombe’s Sadie Jo Hunter had 17 against the Sugar Jets on March 27.
She also surpassed 100 strikeouts on the season.
“She was just throwing it,” Foust said about Messer’s performance. “Nothing was holding her back. She just wanted to win. We all wanted to win.”
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times and Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @zacharyahuber. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times and Times-News.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: How Pisgah softball pitcher Sadie Messer struck out 14 batters after going to emergency room
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