By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
East Hardy Softball hosted Little League Girls Night with future Cougars taking the field with the high school squad, but the Cougars were corralled by Berkeley Springs 6-1.
East Hardy County Little League players were ecstatic to be escorted out on the field by the East Hardy Softball team members.
EHCLL president Casey Dunithan’s daughter Alexandra sang the national anthem.
“It was great to have the East Hardy County Little League softball players here tonight. They are our future Cougars and we were happy to recognize them,” East Hardy coach Noah Orndorff commented.
“Ginger did her job. She threw strikes and allowed Berkeley Springs to hit the ball. We were happy with what she did for us. At times, we didn’t always back her up and support her and make the routine plays that we needed to make. We are trying to make improvements on that. I would like for us to be more aggressive with pitches that are strikes. At times we chased a little bit tonight. We just had an off night.
Berkeley Springs leadoff batter Scotlyn Forney drew a full-count walk from Cougars pitcher Ginger Combs.
A sharp grounder by Payton Mizell was collected and the throw sailed over first baseman Bella Bauserman placing Indians runners on the corners.
Combs hit Alaira Harrington with a pitch as Berkeley Springs loaded the bases.
Combs pitched a dropped third strikeout to Molly Boyles and a double play was created as catcher Gracie Heishman tossed the ball to Combs for the tag at home plate.
Berkeley Springs responded as Layla Parsell smacked a two-run producing single into right field for a 2-nil lead and Combs retired the side with a strikeout.
East Hardy leadoff batter Addison Armentrout ripped a double down the left field line off Berkeley Springs pitcher Alaira Harrington and advanced to third base on a groundout by Heishman.
Ginger Combs drew a walk placing runners on the corners for the Cougars.
Brooke Moyers hit a line drive to the third baseman and almost got a double play, but Armentrout safely made the dive back to the bag.
Harrington prevented a score with a strikeout to April Dove to end the first inning.
Berkeley Springs started the second inning with a double by Hailey Adkins, who advanced on a wild pitch.
Kamryn Buck delivered an RBI single in center field with a wicked hop as the Indians took a 3-0 lead.
Combs sandwiched a fielder’s choice with two strikeouts to retire the side.
Harrington pitched two strikeouts before issuing a full-count walk to East Hardy’s Taylor McReynolds and ended the frame with another strikeout.
East Hardy’s Brooke Moyers caught a line drive, then the Indians snuck another line drive past third base for a single by Molly Boyles.
Armentrout caught a pop-up for the second out as Combs jammed Layla Parsell.
Berkeley Springs added to the lead 4-0 as a RBI single by Dakota Adams turned into a wild error with the pass sailing into the dugout and Jaelynn Combs made a leaping catch in left field for the third out.
After a groundout by Armentrout, Harrington struck out Heishman.
East Hardy’s Ginger Combs singled into center field and courtesy runner stole around to third base with the help of a pickoff error, but was stranded on a strikeout to Moyers.
Combs pitched back-to-back strikeouts to commence the fourth inning, then Forney reached base on an error with a drop at first base and was stranded on a pop-up catch by Armentrout.
East Hardy’s April Dove smashed a double into left field, then Harrington countered with two consecutive strikeouts.
The Cougars pounced back as McReynolds crushed an RBI double into left field to slice the deficit to 4-1.
After a stealing third base, McReynolds was left aboard on a strikeout.
Harrington ripped a double down the left field line for the Indians to begin the fifth inning and advanced to third base on an error at first base off the bat of Boyles.
After a groundout, Dakota Adams hit a two-RBI single past the diving attempt at second base to put the Indians ahead 6-1.
The Cougars recorded a groundout and Combs notched a strikeout to retire the side.
“[Pitcher] She did great tonight. It has been a growing and learning experience for us this season. We are very young. I have two seniors, one of which was our pitcher tonight and one junior. Everyone else is underclassmen. I was happy with our bats, but more happy with our defense. We have had games where we really struggled, so it was much cleaner today. I really liked it,” Berkeley Springs coach Catherine Wood remarked.
East Hardy went down in order on a pop-up and two groundouts with the latter looking like the ball ricocheted off Combs’ foot.
Ginger Combs garnered another strikeout to start the sixth inning, then induced a groundout before hitting Mizell with a pitch and Jaylynn Combs caught a fly ball for the third out.
East Hardy’s Taylor Tillotson singled with the help of an error as the ball richoched off the face of the right fielder.
Tillotson stole second base and advanced to third base during a dropped third strike going into the dugout.
Jaylynn Combs executed a bunt with the pitcher charging Tillotson, who avoided the tag only by stepping out of the baseline in the process and making a dive for home plate with a called out for going beyond the running lane.
A sharp grounder by Chelsea Mills was fumbled at second base, but recovered in time for the out at first base.
Combs tossed a strikeout to begin the seventh inning, then Parsell connected for single into right field.
The Cougars defense turned a double play to retire the side,
East Hardy went down in order on a groundout, pop-out and strikeout as the Indians snatched a 6-1 victory.
