Moorefield broke free from a tie in the sixth inning before adding six runs in the seventh inning including a three-run blast by Alyssa Vetter and staved off a rally led by East Hardy’s Skye Metzer launching a three-run home run to secure the sweep over the Lady Cougars 9-5 in the Hardy County Softball Showdown held in Baker on Friday.
The Lady Yellow Jackets won both of the Hardy County Softball Showdown games to gain bragging rights for the season.
It was a tough battle trying to solve the pitching and defense early on in the contest as the Lady Cougars scored the initial run in the second inning on Rebecca Whetzel’s RBI double and Moorefield finally got on the board taking the lead in the fifth inning on a two-run home run by Rebekah Markwood.
“Proud that my girls fought hard the whole game,” Moorefield Softball coach Tammie Ayers remarked.
“Ashley [Taylor] runs a great program. I never go to a game when we’re playing East Hardy that I anticipate the score to be lopsided. That’s what makes a rivalry just that – adrenaline flowing, heart pounding, excitement, good all-around game. My girls were a little slow getting hits. We put the bat on the ball, but an East Hardy Cougar seemed to have a magnet for the ball. It took a couple of innings for us to finally get in the groove of hitting. Then Bekah [Markwood] came through with a homer, and Alyssa [Vetter] soon followed. I’d also like to send kudos to Madison McGregor, Anna Riggleman and Hanna Carlson on a great defensive game.”
East Hardy starting pitcher Brooke Miller induced a groundout from Moorefield leadoff batter Rebekah Markwood as first baseman Leanna Basye fielded the ball.
Anna Riggleman notched a low line drive, but East Hardy second baseman Madison Strawderman made a diving catch and both dugouts shouted compliments on the play.
The Lady Yellow Jackets refused to leave without getting a base runner out there, so Remington Hinkle ripped a double into center field before being left on base on a pop-up by Macie Zirk to Strawderman in shallow right field.
Moorefield starting pitcher Rebekah Markwood forced a groundout by East Hardy leadoff batter Lexi Strawderman which was collected be second baseman Madison McGregor.
East Hardy’s Julia Hahn smacked a sharp grounder to Zirk at third base which wasn’t fielded cleanly giving time for the single.
The Lady Cougars weren’t able to create a run as Skye Metzer’s grounder was stopped on a diving save by Riggleman at shortstop and swiftly threw to first baseman Alyssa Vetter, then Markwood fielded another groundout hit by Miller to end the frame.
In the top of the second inning, Moorefield’s Hanna Carlson grounded out to Madison Strawderman before Vetter singled into center field.
Miller countered with a strikeout to McGregor and snatched a groundout off the bat of Tori Humphries.
Moorefield recorded two quick outs as Markwood struck out Emma Baker and Basye grounded out to Riggleman, but the Lady Cougars had a rally in store.
East Hardy’s Jessica Smith made an infield single near second base and scored on an RBI double by Rebecca Whetzel in center field for a 1-nil edge.
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Madison Strawderman singled into left field for the Lady Cougars to put runners on the corners and Markwood called a timeout to talk with catcher Alyson Simmons, then both runners were stranded on a groundout by Lexi Strawderman fielded by McGregor.
Simmons struck out to begin the third inning, but Markwood followed with a hit into right field that went off the glove of Emily Yates for an erroneous single.
Markwood was left aboard the bases as Riggleman flew out to Yates and Hinkle’s grounder was scooped on a dive by Madison Strawderman with the throw to Basye.
It looked as though the Lady Cougars would have a scoring opportunity as Hahn launched the ball to the center field fence and was dashing over to third base for an attempt at a triple, but Hinkle fielded the ball and made a laser throw to Zirk for the tag as both collided rolling in the dirt.
Metzer hit back to the pitcher and Vetter leaped up to make the catch, then Miller flew out to nullify the chances to grow the lead entering the fourth inning, 1-0.
The top of the fourth inning belonged to the East Hardy outfielders as Lexi Strawderman made two catches in center field on hits from Zirk and Vetter which sandwiched a flyout by Carlson to Smith in left field.
The Lady Cougars were able to get a pair of base runners aboard in the fourth inning as Baker sent a sharp grounder toward third base which was knocked down by Zirk and Baker reached first base in time.
A sacrifice bunt by Basye advanced Baker, then Smith launched the ball into left field for a single to place runners on the corners.
Moorefield escaped without allowing a run as Whetzel popped out to Riggleman and Madison Strawderman grounded out to Markwood.
McGregor made a pop-up and Miller caught the ball on a dive with Metzer in the vicinity to help.
After a flyout by Humphries to Madison Strawderman in right field, the Lady Cougars appeared close to keeping the 1-0 lead if the third out could be achieved.
The Lady Yellow Jackets weren’t finished with the fifth inning as Simmons patiently drew a full-count walk and Markwood crushed a two-run home run over the center field fence for a 2-1 advantage.
Moorefield sent Hanna Carlson in as the relief pitcher and East Hardy’s Lexi Strawderman singled into center field.
Hahn made a sacrifice bunt to move Strawderman over, then Carlson countered with a strikeout to Metzer.
Miller hit the game-tying RBI double into left field as the Lady Cougars fought back, but McGregor made a leaping catch on a pop-up by Baker to prevent another run.
The Lady Yellow Jackets had the bats talking in the sixth inning as Hinkle whacked the ball to center field for a double, then Zirk was tagged out by Basye on a bunt.
Moorefield regained the lead 3-2 as Carlson executed a bunt with the throw from Baker not arriving in Metzer’s glove in time as Hinkle slid safely into home plate and Gracie O’Neill came in as the courtesy runner.
Vetter made an infield single and both runners were left on the lily pods in the pond as McGregor flew out to Lexi Strawderman in center field on the run.
East Hardy went down in order as Basye hit a line drive to McGregor, Smith struck out and Whetzel popped out to Carlson.
The fireworks were sparked in the seventh inning as Humphries got on base due to an error by Madison Strawderman, then Simmons delivered a sacrifice bunt.
Markwood stepped in swinging on the first pitch, sending the ball up the middle for an RBI double to extend the lead, 4-2.
Riggleman singled into left field where Smith committed an error enabling Markwood to score and Riggleman advanced to third base.
Hinkle connected for an RBI single into center field to lift Moorefield’s lead to 6-2.
After a pop-out, Carlson hit a laser into right field for a single off East Hardy pitcher Emma Baker.
Vetter delivered a three-run home run over the left field fence to boost the Lady Yellow Jackets advantage to 9-2.
Basye caught a pop-up by McGregor to end the side.
East Hardy needed some rally magic and it started with a single into center field by Madison Strawderman.
Lexi Strawderman punched the ball into center field, but Riggleman was there for the catch.
Hahn stepped in making contact on the first pitch unleashing a laser into left field for a double putting runners in scoring position.
East Hardy’s Skye Metzer dialed long distance on the first pitch making a three-run blast over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 9-5.
The rally continued as Miller singled into center field, then Baker hit a deep fly ball which was caught by Riggleman in center field.
Basye was hit by a pitch as the Lady Cougars now had two runners on base, but Carlson ended the game hurling a strikeout to Smith.
Moorefield made the defensive plays when necessary and the timely hitting proved successful late in the game for the rivalry win.
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