By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
It was a reunion for Moorefield coach Bridget Sions and Williamsport coach Jennie Finafrock, who are former Davis and Elkins College teammates, at the Bub Riggleman Memorial Softball Tournament on Friday afternoon in Moorefield.
The Yellow Jackets buzzed past the Wildcats 18-2 as Carlee Haines smashed a walk-off home run to seal the victory.
“It is awesome. I haven’t seen Jennie for 15 years or so. The last time I saw her was at mine and my husband’s wedding. We played at D&E together and this is awesome. She was an awesome player. To be able to come together and play ball was a fun time. We have been working really hard at hitting. That has been our team’s focus the past few weeks. The girls have been taking our drills seriously. I told them they aren’t going to get better if they don’t take this serious and going through the motions won’t help anything. They have been getting it done and it really came together in these past two games. We are hitting the ball very well. I just hope we keep getting batter everyday and keep this rolling,” Moorefield coach Bridget Sions remarked.
Moorefield pitcher Annie Barr allowed three hits and tossed five strikeouts in the win.
Barr commenced the game throwing back-to-back strikeouts to Williamsport’s Breanna Stevens and Kaylen Butts.
The Wildcats got on base with a single by Jordyn Miles into center field, but was stranded on a pop-up by Ella Rechtorovic which was corralled by Moorefield third baseman Carlee Haines.
Williamsport pitcher Jordyn Miles allowed a leadoff single by Moorefield’s CiCi Kump into right field prior to issuing a walk to Grace Simmons.
Miles countered with a strikeout to Emmy Crites, then Seanna Heavner plated Kump on an error by shortstop Jewel Sullivan.
Simmons stole home to give the Yellow Jackets a 2-nil edge.
Haines flew out to right field and the inning came to a close with a strikeout to Barr.
Sullivan singled for the Wildcats starting the second inning, then Barr countered with a strikeout to Hannah Small.
Williamsport’s Morgan Neil smacked an RBI double and was tagged out trying to reach third base as left fielder Caroline Auville connected with shortstop Kerigan Bergdall, who tossed to Haines for the rundown tag and Kump caught a fly ball to retire the side.
Moorefield went down in order on a pop-out, strikeout and groundout.
Barr struck out the Wildcats’ Katie Vanderhuff, then Stevens reached on an error in the third inning.
Williamsport tied the game at 2-all as a fly ball by Butts into left field turned into an error allowing Stevens to score.
Moorefield got out of the jam with a groundout and flyout.
Kump notched a single into right field, then Simmons drew a walk.
The Yellow Jackets regained the lead 4-2 as Crites delivered a two-run producing single into left field and advanced to second base on the throw home.
Heavner crushed an RBI double into center field for a 5-2 edge.
Haines drew a walk and Barr smacked a single to load the bases for the Yellow Jackets.
Kuykendall hit into a fielder’s choice at home plate, then Brenna See struck out with the bases still loaded.
Bergdall ripped a two-run single into center field to put Moorefield up 7-2, then Kump grounded out to close the frame.
Williamsport went down in order during the fourth inning on a flyout to Kump, a strikeout and groundout fielded by Bergdall.
Simmons singled to left field and stole second base, then advanced to third base on a groundout by Crites.
The Yellow Jackets took an 8-2 lead as Heavner hit into a fielder’s choice and Simmons avoided the tag at home plate.
Miles issued a free pass to Haines, then Barr reached base on an error to load the bases.
Heavner scored on a sacrifice fly by Kuykendall for a 9-2 lead.
Moorefield’s Hannah Snyder plated two runs on an error in right field for an 11-2 advantage.
Bergdall and Kump hit back-to-back singles with the latter creating a run by Snyder, 12-2.
Williamsport pitcher Bryan Ruppenthal induced a grounder by Simmons, but an error occurred allowing Bergdall and Kump to come home.
Crites launched an RBI single into left field extending the Yellow Jackets lead to 15-2.
Heavner notched an RBI double as the damage continued.
Haines smashed the game ending two-run home run and did the Griddy dance on the way to home plate to join her teammates in celebration in the 18-2 win.
“I was superpsyched. I didn’t know how to react. I Griddy’d unto home plate. It was super exciting. I haven’t hit all season, so it is finally falling together,” Moorefield senior Carlee Haines noted.
The Class AA No. 10 Yellow Jackets played once more in the Bub Riggleman Tournament on Saturday afternoon with fireworks by Haines creating seven runs during an 11-8 loss to Hedgesville.
Haines smashed a grand slam, notched an inside-the-park home run and added a two-run blast against Class AAAA Hedgesville.
The Eagles lost to Class A No. 1 ranked Pendleton County in the semifinals, then the Wildcats defeated Class AA Keyser 12-4 to win their first Bub Riggleman Memorial Softball Tournament Championship.
“That was awesome. These girls for four years have worked so hard to get where they are. Last year we were runners-up and this year we battled through. We all ran out of pitching, but we made it. They worked hard and I am very proud of them. This Bub Riggleman Tournament is one of the best ones to ever have. We are so delighted to be in it. Every time we come to Moorefield, they treat us like their own. So many people have invested in this tournament. The Bub Riggleman Tournament is our local tournament and it means so much for our community,” Pendleton County coach Eric Crites stated.
Moorefield’s Carlee Haines was named to the Bub Riggleman Memorial Softball All-Tournament Team along with Pendleton County’s Baylee Beachler (MVP), Avery Townsend, Lizzy Alt, Jayden Mitts, Tucker County’s Ava Shaffer and Peyton Hicks, Keyser’s Brielle Root, Bibs Felton and Leighton Johnson, Philip Barbour’s Avery McDaniel, Greenbrier West’s Madalyn Fields, Spring MillsTaryn Close, Hampshire’s Ava all, Lewis County’s Ashley Crook, Hedgesville’s Maggie Boyer and LExie Brown, Musselman’s AllisonHoffman and Camryn Mallow.
