By Carl Holcomb
A familiar battle of the cats showdown for the third time this season came in a brand new territory at the WVSSAC Class A state softball tournament held at Little Creek Park in South Charleston.
Class A defending state champion and Potomac Valley Conference rival Pendleton County ousted East Hardy 12-4, but the Cougars fought ferociously building a 4-2 lead before blunders unraveled the momentum of the pitching duel.
This was the first trip to the state tournament for East Hardy since 2011 and just the second time in school history.
East Hardy senior pitcher Madison Strosnider, a Richard Bland College of William & Mary recruit, kept wheeling and dealing in each game against the Wildcats this season.
Strosnider pitched a dozen strikeouts in the first game of the year against Pendleton County in a 15-0 loss, then fanned 16 batters in a 2-nil setback.
The Wildcats countered with junior pitcher Susan Vincell throwing 15 and 18 strikeouts, respectively in those contests.
Fast forward to the state tournament where Strosnider garnered eight strikeouts and Vincell added nine more in this state tournament elimination game win.
Strosnider finished the season with 211 strikeouts and 402 career K’s.
Strosnider was the Potomac Valley Conference strikeout leader, fourth overall in Class A and had the 12th best total among all four classes.
Strosnider revealed a 65 mph fastball during her game against Class AA Petersburg, the eventual state champions for the first time in school history.
Utilizing stellar pitching and forcing defensive plays was paramount for the cats to purr to perfection.
“It was really special to see her get to experience and finish her season at the state tournament. Especially, after she had to sit out last season after game 3 due to a shoulder injury. She worked hard all last year from spring through fall to get healed up and rehabilitated so that she could come back and have a standout senior year. She did a great job of keeping good hitters off balance and not allowing them to be able to square up on the ball,” East Hardy Softball assistant coach and father Joey Strosnider commented.
“Maddie’s fastball was 65 mph and her curveball was 63 mph. That’s pretty high velocity for a high school pitcher and then the you add how much spin she put on the ball it makes it tough for batters to hit.”
Torrential rain wreaked havoc on the Wednesday session moving this game from a nightcap to a rooster call on Thursday morning at Rock Field.
Small ball is a good thing to use and the Cougars (10-13) pounced on that idea with great success to commence the state tournament game against Pendleton County (19-7) as Paylynn Rexrode executed a perfect bunt which was tracked down by Wildcats pitcher Susan Vincell, but the throw went awry eluding the grasp of first baseman Kinsley Price for a single and took off for second base on the sequence.
Jaylynn Combs moved Rexrode to third base on a groundout as the Cougars now had a runner in scoring position.
Strosnider enabled East Hardy to take the initial lead against the defending champions with an RBI groundout as Rexrode crossed the plate pumping up the dugout.
Vincell retired the side with a strikeout to Bella Bauserman.
The Wildcats rallied for a 2-1 edge in the bottom of the first inning.
Strosnider recorded a dropped third strike out as catcher Grace Heishman recovered and threw out Molly Rowe connecting with first baseman Bella Bauserman.
Pendleton County went to the small ball routine with a bunt single down the third base line by Callie Judy.
Judy stole around to third base on pitches reaching the backstop, then Jessica Parker was issued a walk for runners on the corners. Parker advanced on a defensive indifference call.
Strosnider jammed Vincell for a pop-up caught by shortstop Jaylynn Combs.
Price ripped a two-run producing single into right field with the second run coming home just before the throw arrived from Charlee Hahn, 2-1.
Strosnider countered with a strikeout to Lexy Tingler to close the frame.
East Hardy went down in order during the second inning as Grace Heishman struck out, Taylor McReynolds bunt was fielded at third base and Price stretched for the catch denying a base runner and Alexis Baker went out swinging on Vincell’s deceptive throw.
Strosnider struck out Chesnee Colaw, then Abigail Judy connected for a bunt single.
Pendleton County came up empty as Strosnider tossed a strikeout to Laney Bowers and Rowe was thrown out on a dropped third strike by Heishman.
The Cougars went to work in the third inning to regain the lead.
East Hardy’s Charlee Hahn drew a full-count walk, then Danielle Funkhouser was hit by a pitch.
Rexrode tapped a bunt single to load the bases for the Cougars.
Combs received a free pass on straight balls plating the game tying run.
Vincell responded with back-to-back strikeouts to Strosnider and Bauserman.
East Hardy was patient at the plate as Heishman took four balls for a bases juiced walk putting the Cougars up 3-2.
McReynolds garnered a full-count walk as East Hardy created a 4-2 edge over the defending champions.
Alexis Baker hit a shallow fly ball track down by shortstop Molly Rowe to prevent further damage.
The Wildcats slashed back with four runs in the bottom of the third inning en route to nine unanswered runs to seal the win.
“Maddie [Strosnider] is a great pitcher. We see her in the regular season so the game plan was to try and force errors,” Pendleton County Softball coach Hillary Fox remarked.
“They have a solid defense, but everybody makes mistakes and fortunately, we were on the lower end of those mistakes today.”
Strosnider issued a walk to Judy starting the third frame, then Parker hit a shot into center field which was met with a leaping catch by Taylor McReynolds.
McReynolds displayed a heart gesture to the dugout and fans after that play.
Vincell smashed a RBI double into right field just off the glove of Charlee Hahn and slid into third base with a huge high five from coach Hillary Fox.
Price notched a bunt which was quickly collected by Strosnider checking on courtesy runner Madison Arbaugh before making the throw for the out at first base.
Colaw hit a wild hopper into left field eluding the grasp of Funkhouser and dashed for it at the fence as two runs came home and Strosnider’s throw was off the mark, 5-4.
Strosnider settled down with a strikeout, then Tingler slid home on a passed ball and was smothered by Strosnider in the process as the Wildcats went up 6-4.
Strosnider escaped more trouble with a strikeout to end the inning.
“It was obvious that our game plan and Pendleton’s game plan to put the ball in play and force each other to make plays or errors,” East Hardy Softball skipper Noah Orndorff stated.
“Overall, the heat got to us a little bit. This is a new environment for us and it’s always tough your first time trying to figure things out. I’m proud of their effort.”
Hahn tapped the ball up and Vincell nearly made a diving catch and couldn’t corral the ball in time as Hahn raced to first base for the single.
Hahn alertly reached through Price on an errant pickoff attempt back to first base.
Funkhouse made a sacrifice bunt, but Hahn would be stranded on consecutive strikeouts to Rexrode and Combs. Callie Judy hit a pop fly just out of reach of Rexrode and the throw went awry creating a double bagger.
Parker drew a walk, then the runners advanced on a passed ball.
Pendleton County came up empty as Strosnider struck out Vincell and induced a groundout by Price.
After a groundout by Strosnider to start the fifth, the Cougars pounced on base as Bauserman slammed the ball into center field for a single.
The Wildcats kept East Hardy from scoring as Vincell responded with back-to-back strikeouts to Heishman and McReynolds.
Pendleton County jump aboard with two walks issued to Tingler and Colaw.
The Wildcats made a double steal, then Judy hit a sacrifice bunt plating one run.
Colaw scored on a passed ball with Strosnider diving on top trying to prevent the run.
Bowers notched an RBI groundout with Strosnider throwing to first base as Pendleton County doubled the score 8-4.
Bauserman caught a pop-up by Rowe, but the Wildcats weren’t finished snarling for more runs.
Judy was issued a walk and Parker reached base on a sharp grounder turned into an error.
Vincell plated two runs on a double down the third base line.
Price ripped the ball up the middle to plate Arbaugh and seal the mercy rule victory, 12-4.
“Aggressive base-running was part of the game plan today. Run on the catcher until she throws you out,” Coach Fox noted.
“In a tournament like this when it’s hot and you’re a little tired from yesterday, that comes into focus and it helped us feed off momentum.”
Pendleton County ended the Cougars journey, but East Hardy had one of the biggest turnarounds having only one win last season to reaching the state tournament and being in the double digit win column speaks volumes for heart and determination from Team 26.
The Wildcats staved off elimination by washing out Sherman Tide 19-5, then fell in an 11-0 shutout to Wahama denying a return to the championship. Wheeling Central Catholic won the Class A crown over the White Falcons in a 12-2 rout.
Pendleton County’s Kinsley Price was selected to the Class A State All-Tournament Team.
“The goal from day one was to get here and we accomplished that goal and we were trying to exceed that goal. It’s been an incredible experience for the players. I’m so glad they’ve gotten the opportunity to experience it because they earned it. Team 26 showed heart on this journey. It wasn’t the ending we wanted, but it is tough overcoming adversity. We appreciate all the support from our community,” Coach Orndorff concluded.
