By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Moorefield 10-12 Softball All-Stars shutout Hampshire 11-nil in four innings with the pitching of Kylan Markwood to claim the West Virginia Little League District 6 Area 2 Championship in Petersburg.
Moorefield pitcher Kylan Markwood notched four strikeouts and the defense helped to allow just one Hampshire hit.
Markwood jammed two batters into pop-ups around a walk to start the game, then retired the side with a strikeout.
Moorefield got on base fast as Markwood smashed a double into left field and advanced on a passed ball.
Rebecca Liller smacked an RBI single just over the second baseman for a 1-nil edge.
Liller stole second base and reached third base on a groundout by Harper Hunt.
After a strikeout to Naomi Markwood, Liller scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead.
Hampshire ended the frame with a strikeout to Bella Linville.
After a walk to Hampshire, Moorefield’s defense caught fly ball and turned a double play.
Moorefield received three straight walks to load the bases: Nellee Sevilla, Darah See and Ally Landes.
An RBI blooper smacked by Kate Cumberland eluded the diving attempt in center field plating one run and another run scored on a miscue at third base for a 4-0 lead.
Hampshire countered with a strikeout to Anna-Leia Champ.
Moorefield’s Avelyn Bean connects for a two-run producing single as the throw home was late and dashed to second base simultaneously, 6-0.
Aubrey Hose struck out, then Bean stole third base and Kylan Markwood received a walk to put runners on the corners.
Liller sent home two runs on an error with a late throw home, then the throw to second base on advancement went awry for an 8-nil advantage and the inning closed on a groundout by Hunt.
One Hampshire runner reached base on an error in the third inning, but Markwood collected three strikeouts to prevent a score.
After a groundout by Naomi Markwood, Linville drew a walk.
Sevilla smashed an RBI double to put Moorefield up 9-0.
Darah See was issued a free pass, then Landes hit into a fielder’s choice out at third base.
Cumberland delivered an RBI single and advanced to second base on the throw home.
Champ plated one run as the ball was dropped by the second baseman for an error creating an 11-0 lead for Moorefield.
Hampshire induced a groundout by Bean to close the inning.
Hampshire’s Brileigh singled into left field in the top of the fourth inning.
The Hampshire runner was caught stealing as Moorefield catcher Bella Linville’s throw skirted into right field where Avelyn Bean fired over to second base for the tag by Rebecca Liller.
Markwood induced a pair of groundouts collected by Harper Hunt to seal the 11-nil Area 2 championship shutout.
Moorefield traveled to South Berkeley (Inwood) for the District 6 Tournament Championship facing off against Area 1 champion Hedgesville yesterday.
