White’s speed turns tide in Raiders’ favor during one-run win over Warriors

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame freshman outfielder Sophia White has earned the nickname “Flash.”

On Saturday, she showed why.

White led off the third inning of a scoreless game against Hardin Calhoun at The Backyard with one task — get on base. With that in mind, Raiders coach Eric Orne told White to bunt for a hit and use her blazing speed.

“My mentality was I just had to get this bunt down, especially because we had zeros on the board,” White said. “I had to get the bunt down.”

White bunted the first pitch she saw from Audrey Gilman, deadening the ball about 15 feet in front of home plate. Calhoun first baseman Anna Oswald fielded the ball and threw to second baseman Kiera Sievers covering first, but the throw got past Sievers.

“I saw the throw go past first, and my first base coach said, ‘Go to second,’” White said.

White bolted for second, and as she did, right fielder Anabel Eilerman’s throw sailed into left field.

“I saw the throw when I was on second, and Coach Orne was like, ‘Come on, come on,’” White said.

White kept on running, making it to third standing up and a grinning Orne gave White a congratulatory low five.

Only when White got the stop sign from Orne on her way to third did she consider putting on the brakes.

“Until I get told to stop, I’m going,” White said.

White did not have to stop for long. The first pitch to the next batter, Caitlin Bunte, sailed to the backstop. White immediately took off for home and dove headfirst across the plate, throwing up a cloud of dust and chalk and giving the Raiders a 1-0 lead.

“There was a lot going through my mind, but I just had to have the mentality that I’m faster and I can beat the pitcher,” White said. “You just have to believe.”

Combined with speed unlike Orne has seen in quite some time, it resulted in the Raiders’ only run of the game. 

“I don’t think we’ve scored a run like that in years,” Orne said.

Bunte escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh, and the game ended on a baserunner’s interference call on a ground ball in shortstop Alyssa Ley’s direction.

Orne is grateful to have White’s wheels at his disposal.

“She is so dynamic,” Orne said. “Her speed on the basepaths is an incredible weapon that we haven’t had in years.”

And White, who attended Carthage Middle School, will continue to put those wheels to good use in her first season at QND.

“I play a very strong role,” White said. “It’s a privilege to be on this team.”