The Lady Sentinels came marching into Sager Field with two early runs, but gusts of wind chilled the atmosphere to enable Moorefield to freeze the attack during a rally for a 10-2 five inning victory.
It took three innings before the Lady Yellow Jackets buzzed around the bases for five runs and placed Fort Hill on ice.
“I’m very proud of the girls, but we had a little scare before we started,” Moorefield Coach Tammie Ayers remarked.
“I think Julie [Markwood] probably broke her had warming up. They were kind of nervous about that, but they settled in after an inning. We didn’t do well the first inning with the coldness and nerves about that. Emma [Baker] pitched really well the first three innings and that was her first time really out there, then Hanna [Carlson] came out to close the game and we started putting the bat on the ball.”
Speaking of how cold it was, Moorefield captain Rebekah Markwood was sipping hot chocolate at the home plate captain’s meeting.
Moorefield pitcher Emma Baker started the game forcing a groundout fielded by third baseman Macie Zirk, then walked Fort Hill’s Regan Marrale and struck out Hailey Ternent.
Fort Hill’s Olivia Hess hit a blooper near the right field line for a single to put runners on the corners, then Mindi Guinn notched an RBI single into left field for a 1-0 edge and the side ended on a groundout collected by Zirk.
Fort Hill center fielder Alesha Lippold made a diving catch on Moorefield leadoff batter Rebekah Markwood’s hit off Lady Sentinels pitcher Ny McGraw, then Baker grounded out to shortstop Ternent.
Remington Hinkle garnered a single up the middle for the Lady Yellow Jackets, but was left on base as Ann Riggleman’s potential home run shot was robbed at the fence by Lippold.
In the top of the second inning, McGraw singled up the middle and Baili Dawson garnered an RBI double into left field and advanced to third base on the throw home as McGraw slid home face first to give the Lady Sentinels a 2-nil advantage.
After a free pass to Alexa Nerf, Wolfe popped out to shortstop Markwood, then Nerf stole second base as Fort Hill now had two runners in scoring position.
Moorefield nixed the scoring opportunity as Riggleman caught a fly ball in center field and fired it to Madison McGregor at second base for the double play.
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Moorefield’s Alyssa Vetter grounded out despite a bobble at third base by Olivia Hess and McGregor hit a line drive back to Hess for the second out.
Zirk smacked a double to the right field fence and advanced on a passed ball before being left on base on a pop-out by Kennedie Hinger.
The Lady Sentinels went down in order during the third inning as Baker tossed a strikeout, Zirk fielded a grounder and Makaleigh Snyder caught the last out in right field.
The Lady Yellow Jackets started their rally in the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff single by Alyson Simmons.
Markwood hit into a fielder’s choice and was safe at first base avoiding a double play.
Baker reached base on an error and Markwood slid safely into third base as the throw was off the mark providing the green light to score with Baker causing a distraction going back to first base.
Hinkle made a sacrifice bunt to move Baker over, then Riggleman launched a shot deep near the left field fence where the ball ricocheted off Dawson’s glove for the game tying run.
The Moorefield dugout was cheering loudly and was off the charts as Vetter plated the lead changing run with the help of an error and moved to second base.
After a walk to McGregor, Fort Hill catcher Gabby Wolfe’s pickoff attempt at third base went awry sending Vetter home and McGregor slid into third base before the tag.
Zirk was issued a walk to put runners on the corners for the Lady Yellow Jackets, then Hinger ripped an RBI single into center field for a 5-2 advantage and Simmons hit into a fielder’s choice at third base.
Moorefield’s Hanna Carlson came in to pitch in the fourth inning and sandwiched strikeouts around a single and a pop-out to close the side.
Markwood was given a walk to start the bottom of the fourth inning, then Baker hopped on base on an error as Markwood dashed to third base.
After a passed ball advanced Baker, Hinkle connected for a two-run producing single and arrived at second base on the throw home only to be tagged out attempting to reach third base, 7-2.
Riggleman singled and was caught stealing second base moments later.
Vetter singled on a blooper near second base surrounded by three fielders, but was left on base on a groundout by Carlson.
Marrale singled with one out into right field for the Lady Sentinels in the top of the fifth inning, advanced on a passed ball and moved to third base as the next pitch ricocheted off of Simmons.
After a walk put runners on the corners, Carlson pitched out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts.
McGraw gave Zirk a free pass before Hinger singled to left field as the Lady Yellow Jackets kept the momentum going.
After a pop fly, Markwood hit an RBI double into right center field and Baker was walked to load the bases before another pop out.
Riggleman delivered the game winning two-RBI single giving Moorefield the 10-2 finish in five innings.
The Lady Yellow Jackets braved the cold to shut down Fort Hill at Sager Field to improve to 5-2.
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