By Carl Holcomb
The Class A defending state softball champion Pendleton County clawed out six runs in the second inning for a 7-nil lead and kept the Yellow Jackets backpedalling with 12 strikeouts by Susan Vincell to secure a 10-4 victory.
Laney Bowers ripped a leadoff double for the Wildcats off Moorefield pitcher Annie Barr, who countered by jamming the next batter into a pop-up.
Thompson unleashed an RBI double to gather the initial lead.
Barr issued a walk to Vincell, then tossed a strikeout and induced a groundout to retire the side.
Moorefield’s Grace Simmons hammered a triple into center field, but that launch was sandwiched by two Vincell strikeouts.
Vincell issued a walk to Barr, then prevented a run with a strikeout to Kerigan Bergall.
Pendleton County commenced the second inning with a walk received by Chesnee Colaw, then Mitts reached base on an error.
Barr induced a groundout as the runners advanced, then the Wildcats struck pay dirt on a two-run producing RBI laser single by Bowers into right field.
Parker smacked an RBI single down the third base line just eluding Emmy Crites.
Vincell smoked an RBI double into left field as Pendleton County created a 5-nil advantage.
Barr issued a walk to Tingler, then Kinsley Price reached base on an error as Tingler came home, 7-0.
Moorefield pitcher Anniston Kite issued a walk prior to closing out the side with a strikeout.
Moorefield’s Caroline Auville was hit by a pitch and stole second base, then dashed to third base on a groundout by Sara Baldwin.
Raleigh Kuykendall recorded an RBI groundout denying a shutout, 7-1.
Kite hopped on base due to one error on a sharp grounder to third base, then Crites was hit by a pitch before they were stranded on a strikeout from Judy.
In the third inning, Kite spun two strikeouts around a free pass before jamming Thompson into a pop-up caught by Bergdall.
Vincell returned to the circle collecting two strikeouts around a groundout.
Kite bookended two walks around a strikeout and groundout, then Judy swiped home plate for an 8-1 advantage before the side was retired on a groundout fielded by Kuykendall.
The Yellow Jackets went down in order on a groundout, pop-out into shallow center with an overhead snatch by Price prior to a dropped third strike.
Moorefield’s defense put the Wildcats out in order during the fifth inning as Brenna See, Bergdall and Poling created plays.
Moorefield’s Emmy Crites crushed a double in the fifth inning with one out.
Simmons hit a sharp grounder to Price and beat the throw for an RBI single. 8-2.
See popped out in foul territory, but an attempt for a double play went askew as Simmons dashed home to cut the deficit to 8-3.
Vincell caught Barr looking for a strikeout.
Price plated Thompson on an RBI groundout to extend the Wildcats advantage back up to 9-3.
Kerigan Bergdall blasted a solo home run for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the sixth inning, 9-4.
Auville singled, but was stranded as Vincell pitched two strikeouts and Kite hit into a fielder’s choice out.
Thompson provided the final score of 10-4 on an RBI single into right field for the Wildcats.
A defensive highlight was Moorefield center fielder Caroline Auville making a home run robbing catch on Vincell to retire the side.
The Yellow Jackets battled to the end as Simmons unleashed a double with one out and See reached base on an error.
Vincell responded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game as Pendleton County emerged as the 10-4 victors.
