The Lady Yellow Jackets came out swinging early to take a 16-4 win in the 13th annual Bub Riggleman Memorial Softball Tournament opener against South Harrison on Friday, edged Class AAA Hedgesville 8-6 and Class AA North Marion 8-0 and kept the winning streak going in the single elimination bracket on Saturday ousting the Lady Huskies 5-1 in the quarterfinals and cruising past the Lady Eagles 14-4 in the semifinals before losing a 6-2 marathon nine inning championship against Class AA Petersburg.
“Bub [Riggleman] was a very good friend of mine. I watched him play slow-pitch a lot of years with my dad and some other friends. It was so devastating when he died suddenly. I listened to the North Marion team doing all the little cheers and it was like Bub was over there in the dugout. I could just see him pounding the ball with the girls and memories just flooded back. To have ten teams come to play on a sunny day, he would be proud,” Moorefield Coach Tammie Ayers commented.
Moorefield got the ball rolling against the Lady Hawks as Rebekah Markwood hit a leadoff single into left field to commence the first round contest.
South Harrison pitcher Kylie Saltis recorded an out on a foul tip by Madison McGregor, but Markwood had advanced around to third base by that time.
Moorefield’s Remi Hinkle launched the ball into left field where the ball ricocheted off the glove of South Harrison’s Jocelyn Heckert allowing Markwood to score on the blunder.
Saltis struck out Macie Zirk, but the Lady Yellow Jackets responded with ten more runs in the first inning.
Moorefield’s Anna Riggleman sent Hinkle home on an error in left field, then Alyssa Vetter drew a walk.
Hanna Carlson notched an RBI double and an error at second base sent Vetter home.
Makaleigh Snyder smashed a two-run home run to give the Lady Yellow Jackets a 6-nil advantage.
Moorefield’s Alyson Simmons singled into right field and Carmen Ketterman came in as the runner.
Markwood reached base on an error, then McGregor connected for a two-RBI double.
Hinkle got aboard on a blunder and Zirk was issued a walk before Riggleman smacked a two-run producing double.
Vetter garnered an RBI single into the left center gap to boost the Lady Yellow Jackets lead to 11-0.
Moorefield pitcher Alyssa Vetter hit South Harrison leadoff batter Kylie Saltis, then Savannah Swenskie reached on an error during a pop-up.
A huge group of Moorefield students cheered from the center field fence.
The Lady Hawks scored on an RBI double by Hayley Woods and an RBI groundout by Heckert to make it 11-2, then Vetter answered with two strikeouts.
Snyder singled with one out in the second inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Simmons before Markwood hit an RBI single.
McGregor singled and Hinkle was issued a walk to load the bases, then Zirk connected for an RBI single into left field before being left aboard on a flyout, 13-2.
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South Harrison’s Hailea Livesay reached on an error and was stranded on two strikeouts and a flyout.
Moorefield extended the lead in the third inning as Vetter walked and Carlson singled before two outs, then Markwood hit an RBI single and Tori Humphries recorded a two-RBI single to make it 16-2.
The Lady Hawks scored twice in the bottom of the third inning, but the mercy rule came into effect for the final score of 16-4.
Swenskie singled into center field, then Woods launched the ball into left field where Hinkle missed the ball on a diving attempt and the throw to third base was off the mark allowing Swenskie to score.
Hackers garnered an RBI single up the middle for the last run by South Harrison.
The Lady Yellow Jackets struck first against Hedgesville as Markwood was given a walk and scored on a straight steal of home plate with the pitcher holding the ball.
Hedgesville pitcher Miranda Payne recorded a strikeout and caught a pop-up before a line drive was caught by Isabella Forte.
An error allowed Forte to reach first base, but was left on base on a sacrifice bunt, groundout and flyout.
Riggleman hit a leadoff single in the second inning and scored on Carlson’s RBI single for a 2-0 edge.
Moorefield pitcher Rebekah Markwood allowed singles by Alexis Myers and Alexis Barnhart before catching a bunt pop-up on a diving play.
Hedgesville’s Kailan Haught singled into center field, then Moorefield third baseman Macie Zirk turned a double play throwing to catcher Alyson Simmons to escape the bases loaded situation.
Markwood was issued a free pass in the third inning and Hinkle’s shot to right field was dropped with one out to put runners on the corners, then a wild pitch plated Markwood.
After a flyout, Riggleman smacked an RBI single into center field for a 4-nil score.
Forte hit a line drive out to Zirk, then Alyssa Parks reached on an error going over to second base.
The Lady Eagles’ Payne singled to Hinkle in right field and the throw home denied a run.
Turben reached on an error, then Myers and Barnhart made RBI singles to cut the deficit to 4-2.
Carlson ripped a double to start the fourth inning and Tori Humphries created a 5-2 lead on an RBI single.
After a sacrifice bunt by Simmons, Markwood connected on an RBI single with the help of an error at shortstop, 6-2.
McGregor’s bunt turned into an error, but the Lady Eagles snatched an out at third base before fielding a groundout by Hinkle.
Haught reached on an error and and Turben singled, then Payne notched a two-run producing double with two outs landing at the left field fence for a 6-4 score and Carlson came in to record a strikeout.
IN the sixth inning, Markwood singled on a blooper into the left center gap, then Hinkle delivered an RBI double into left field with two outs.
Zirk punched the ball into the right field gap for an RBI single to boost the lead to 8-4.
Hedgesville responded as Haught doubled into right center field with Riggleman missing the ball on a diving attempt.
Markwood made a leaping catch on a hit by Turben, then Forte reached on a bunting error.
Parks plated two runs on an error by McGregor to cut the deficit to 8-6.
The Lady Yellow Jackets escaped on a pop-up and groundout.
Moorefield loaded the bases in the seventh inning, but failed to increase the advantage and Vetter was temporarily sidelined on a groundout shoulder injury.
Carlson finished the game pitching a strikeout with one runner stranded for the 8-6 win.
“I’m really proud of my girls, they showed a lot of grit and a lot of fight. They didn’t give up when they were down. We try to play every inning, every pitch just as we preach,” Hedgesville Coach Matt Forte stated.
“I saw that, but we made some mistakes on the base path. We hit the ball really well overall and made some untimely errors and we were made to pay for that. Good teams will make you pay for errors and that should happen when you put the ball over the middle of the plate. Moorefield is a great team, they are a solid team. I wish them the best of luck. I thought our girls stepped up and hit well against their pitching. They aren’t really used to that. I am proud of the product we put out there and we are still young. I look forward to the Bub Riggleman Tournament every year. There are great teams we play against, ones we don’t see during the regular season.”
Moorefield was in control of the Lady Huskies as Carlson pitched an 8-0 shutout with five strikeouts.
North Marion pitcher Cara Minor recorded seven strikeouts, but the Lady Yellow Jackets stringed the hits together to create runs and took advantage of errors.
Riggleman singled into left field in the second inning and an error by Madison Owens enabled a second base advancement and a wild pitch created a steal.
Vetter hit an RBI single into right field and Carlson reached base on an error to put runners on the corners.
After a strikeout, Simmons notched an RBI single to the shortstop.
Markwood launched the ball into center field and an error enabled two runs to score for a 4-0 lead.
The Lady Yellow Jackets added to the lead in the third inning as Riggleman singled, then Carlson hit an RBI double into center field with two outs and Makaleigh Snyder plated Carlson on an error in left field.
Moorefield loaded the bases in the sixth inning on walks to Simmons and Humphries sandwiching a single by Markwood to setup Gracie O’Neill hitting the game-winning fielder’s choice going to North Marion pitcher Cara Minor and the throw back to home plate eluded catcher Emily Glover allowing two runs to score for the 8-0 final.
Prior to the Bub Riggleman Memorial Softball Tournament quarterfinal game on Saturday against North Marion, the Lady Yellow Jackets battled them in a dance-off entertaining the crowd.
Moorefield faced the Lady Huskies and started with a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Markwood singled and McGregor’s bunt turned into an error plating Markwood.
Riggleman hit a low line drive which was caught on dive by Lady Huskies shortstop Ashton Malnick.
North Marion pitcher Hannah Harker sandwiched two walks around a strikeout to load the bases, but got out of the jam on a flyout caught on the run by Malnick.
North Marion’s Emily Glover reached on an error, then Markwood caught a line drive and dashed to tag second base for a double play and Vetter retired the side with a strikeout.
Hinkle smashed a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning for a 2-0 lead for the Lady Yellow Jackets.
Moving to the fifth inning, Simmons started with a bunt single and Markwood garnered an RBI double into left field as Moorefield went up 3-nil.
A sacrifice bunt by McGregor moved Markwood, then Riggleman popped out.
Carlson plated Markwood on an error by second baseman Bailey Malnick with the throw going awry.
Hinkle singled into center field in the sixth inning and Markwood smacked another RBI double into left field for a 5-0 advantage.
North Marion loaded the bases in the seventh inning on a singles by Grover and Cassey Steen, Owens hit into a fielder’s choice and Mullenax reached on an error before a walk scored the lone run to deny a shutout and a line drive was caught at third base to end the game.
Hedgesville took a 2-0 lead in the semifinal as Isabella Forte singled into center field off Moorefield pitcher Rebekah Markwood, then Alyssa Park’s slap bunt turned into an error to reach second base.
Miranda Payne garnered an RBI groundout for the Lady Eagles and Parks scored on a passed ball for the 2-nil edge.
An error past first base enabled Markwood to race to third base, then McGregor hit an RBI single into left field off Hedgesville pitcher Miranda Payne.
Riggleman singled to center field before Carlson flew out to Sierra Turben.
Vetter hit a pop-up for an infield fly rule with the ball ricocheting off the infielder and runners advanced on the play.
Zirk hit a blooper into left field for a two-run producing single and McGregor stopped along the third base line looking back as Riggleman as on her heels scoring to give Moorefield a 3-2 lead.
Hinkle singled and both runners were left on base with a flyout by Humphries.
The Lady Eagles loaded the bases in the second inning as Haught and Sierra Turben singled plus Forte was hit by a pitch which led to Carlson coming in to pitch for Moorefield.
Parks was issued a walk to send one run home, then Payne connected for an RBI sacrifice fly to center field and the throw home by Riggleman nearly got the out as Hedgesville went up 4-3.
Markwood doubled to the left center fence with one out and McGregor walked, then Riggleman flew out to left field.
An error at shortstop off the bat of Carlson allowed Markwood to tie the game with the throw home not in time and McGregor was safe at second base, but Payne got out of the frame with a strikeout.
Myers reached base on an error and Barnhart doubled for the Lady Eagles in the top of the third inning.
Turner launched the ball to the fence where Riggleman robbed a home run, then turned a double play throwing to Markwood at second base and McGregor fielded a groundout to end the side.
Zirk and Hinkle singled into left field for the Lady Yellow Jackets, then Humphries ripped an RBI single to right field for a 5-4 edge.
Simmons bunted into a fielder’s choice check of the runners and was safe at first base to load the bases.
Hinkle scored on a past ball before Markwood flew out, then McGregor was hit by a pitch.
Riggleman reached base on an error at second base and one run scored, then Carlson hit an RBI groundout.
Vetter plated two runs on an error as the ball as dropped by Turner to put Moorefield ahead 10-4.
Hedgesville put two runners on in the fourth inning, but stranded both on pop-outs.
Riggleman smashed a three-run home run sending Humphries and Markwood home after their singles to boost the advantage to 13-4.
The Lady Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning and scored two runs on an error off the bat of Sierra Turben.
Moorefield’s Remi Hinkle smashed the game winning solo home run on the first pitch for the 14-4 victory in five innings.
This win setup a championship meeting against Petersburg which lasted nine innings.
Bub Riggleman Memorial Softball Tournament was full of spectators, getting their money’s worth of action on the field.
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