Moorefield made sensational plays on the turf and surf over the Lady Tide for a 2-0 victory in the Class A state softball tournament elimination final to advance to the championship on Thursday in Vienna.
“They stayed up the whole game. We had some really good clutch hits when we needed them and the defense was on,” Moorefield Coach Tammie Ayers stated.
“Madison McGregor had the game of her season. She has played with so much heart and Hanna Carlson pitched a great game. Macie Zirk came through when we needed her. We are getting our wish to play Wheeling again. The girls seemed more relaxed, because the jitters were gone.”
Before each game, Moorefield prayed together which created a calm feeling for the team.
Sherman pitcher Autumn Thompson jammed Moorefield leadoff batter Rebekah Markwood into a pop-out caught by third baseman Zoie Hess, but the Lady Yellow Jackets responded with a double by Hanna Carlson into left field and courtesy runner Gracie O’Neill took her spot on the base path.
Thompson countered with pair of strikeouts to Moorefield’s Tori Humphries and Anna Riggleman to prevent a score.
Moorefield pitcher Hanna Carlson tossed a complete game allowing only three hits and had three strikeouts using 85 pitches against the Lady Tide.
Thompson grounded out to Moorefield first baseman Alyssa Vetter for the initial out, then Amber Maloskey bunted with Carlson collecting the ball and the throw eluded Madison McGregor with Maloskey tumbling over her reaching the base for the Lady Tide.
Sherman’s Katlyn Jenkins reached base as Carlson stepped past the ball before creating a fielder’s choice throw for an attempt at an out at third base, but the toss to Macie Zirk wasn’t in time.
A walk given to Cloy Toney loaded the bases for the Lady Tide, but they were stranded on a strikeout to Jocelyn Cooper and a flyout by Chelsea Thompson to Moorefield right fielder Tori Humphries.
McGregor hit a leadoff single into center field starting the second inning, then Remi Hinkle hit into a fielder’s choice and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Vetter before being left aboard on a strikeout to Zirk.
Moorefield left fielder Remi Hinkle caught a deep fly ball a yard from the fence by Sherman’s Sydnee Ferrell, then McGregor made a diving catch on a line drive by Hess.
Madelynn Toney was hit by a pitch and Thompson reached on an error, but Carlson dialed out of the mess with a strikeout.
The game would remain scoreless, until the sixth inning.
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Moorefield’s Carmen Ketterman grounded out in the third inning, then Markwood reached base on an error as Sherman shortstop Taylor Elkins overthrew first base.
After another groundout for the second out created by Carlson back to Thompson, Humphries drew a full-count walk and Markwood advanced on a passed ball before taking a timeout to dump a pebble out of her shoe.
The Lady Yellow Jackets failed to score as Riggleman struck out.
McGregor made a stop on her knees fielding a grounder by Jenkins with the throw to Vetter in the bottom of the third inning.
Toney bunted and the ball bounced up hitting her shoulder and was called out, then there was an argument and a discussion by the umpires citing it didn’t hit her so she would be safe at first base as Moorefield catcher Alyson Simmons didn’t make the throw thinking she had been out.
There was a challenge and the call was changed to an out, then McGregor knocked a grounder down and made the scoop and throw to Vetter for the out.
McGregor drew a walk in the fourth inning for Moorefield, then Hinkle reached base on an error at third base after a disputed check swing on a full-count.
Thompson struck out Vetter looking before the Lady Yellow Jackets loaded the bases on a walk to Zirk.
Moorefield stranded the runners as Ketterman struck out and Markwood grounded out to Thompson.
Thompson grounded out to Carlson before Ferrell hit a line drive out to Zirk.
Hess singled just past McGregor and was left aboard as Toney grounded out to Markwood with Vetter doing the splits on the catch.
Riggleman singled up the middle with two outs in the fifth inning and was stranded on a flyout.
The Lady Tide had a leadoff single by Thompson just past the dive of McGregor, but Moorefield responded as Markwood caught a pop-up and threw to Vetter for the double play and Humphries caught the final out.
In the top of the sixth inning, Hinkle singled with the ball ricocheting off Thompson to give the Lady Yellow Jackets a baserunner and Vetter executed a bunt reaching base safely as the throw over to second base was late.
Zirk connected for an RBI single with Hinkle sliding home just in time as the throw arrived in the glove of Ferrell.
After a strikeout to Ketterman, Markwood hit into a fielder’s choice with Hess bobbling the ball and dropping it on the tag attempt.
Carlson zipped the ball over first base for an RBI single giving Moorefield a 2-nil advantage.
Thompson got out of the jam with a strikeout to Humphries and Riggleman grounded out back to the mound.
Cooper singled just past the reach of Vetter with one out, then Thompson singled and the there was a collision on the play at second base with Markwood falling and McGregor alertly snatched the ball up and threw home to Simmons making the tag on Cooper’s helmet for the out during her slide before reaching the plate.
Carlson ended the inning with a strikeout to Ferrell with the Lady Yellow Jackets holding a 2-0 lead.
McGregor singled in the top of the seventh inning into center field, then Hinkle hit into a fielder’s choice and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Vetter before being left aboard.
McGregor fielded two groundouts around a pop-up caught by Carlson to put the Lady Tide out for the season, 2-0.
Moorefield advanced to the state championship game with this victory.
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