By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
East Hardy Softball senior night started bright with a 7-nil lead, then the Trojans stole the spotlight scoring 17 runs in the third inning and Hampshire held off a furious rally by the Cougars to secure a 21-15 win in Baker last Monday.
East Hardy Softball recognized its quartet of seniors with a special ceremony with the underclassmen lined up at each base for a tour around the diamond: Addison Armentrout, Ginger Combs, April Dove and Chelsea Mills.
“These girls mean everything to me. I have spent four years with them and gotten to know them. We’ve had our challenging times and good times, but they are all really good kids and I know they will be successful in whatever they do in the future. It is good to see them graduate. This game had my heart rate going. We got off to a great start, then had a really rough inning. It was a combination of mental mistakes and Hampshire just really hit the ball really well. Other than that, I loved our fight and that we played until the last out and that is all I can ask for. When it was 17-7, it was easy to throw in the towel and we didn’t. I told them to use that as fuel for their fire, so we could continue to fight,” East Hardy coach Noah Orndorff stated.
A couple highlights for the seniors were Ginger Combs hitting her first home run, Addison Armentrout creating an inside-the-park home run and solo blast and Chelsea Mills recorded a bases clearing triple to lift the Cougars spirits.
“It was very surprising and very exciting. I thought it was very fitting that it was senior night. That was my first home run this season. It was really nice to be honored. I cried, because I love these girls and don’t want to leave them. I loved walking around the bases and seeing everybody. Keep your head high, because there is more to life than just softball. It can be mentally tough, but as long as the girls do their best and hustle that is all that matters,” East Hardy Softball senior Ginger Combs noted.
These Cougars are members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society.
Armentrout will be studying to become a Veterinarian Technician at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.
Combs will be attending cosmetology school and later Shepherd University.
Dove plans to attend Shepherd University to obtain a degree in Education with a minor in Environmental Studies.
Mills plans to attend Carroll University to earn a degree in Animal Behavior and become a zookeeper.
East Hardy starting pitcher Ginger Combs kept the Trojans off-balanced in the first inning by inducing two groundouts fielded by April Dove and Brooke Moyers, then allowed a Trojans single by Brianna Cosner before closing the side with a strikeout.
East Hardy leadoff batter Addison Armentrout smacked a single into center field, then stole around to third base.
Gracie Heishman drew a walk from Hampshire pitcher Molly McVicker.
A double steal placed Heishman at second base as Armentrout swiped home plate for the Cougars initial 1-nil lead.
Moyers was issued a free pass, then Combs bunted and the ball ricocheted to hit her for an out.
Dove ripped an RBI single with the help of an error at second base for a 2-0 score.
Taylor McReynolds was safe at first base on a dropped third strike to load the bases.
Mills crushed a bases clearing double into right field putting East Hardy up 5-nil.
After a groundout by Jaylynn Combs moved Mills to third base, Bella Bauserman smashed an RBI triple for a 6-0 advantage before a strikeout ended the inning.
Hampshire got a pair of base runners on in the second inning with a single and walk, then Ginger Combs countered with two strikeouts and a groundout to leave them aboard.
Ginger Combs hammered a solo home run for the Cougars in the bottom of the second inning for a 7-0 edge.
Dove was given a walk before being left on base on a line drive by McReynolds to Ava Calll.
The Trojans recorded 17 runs in the third inning for a 17-7 advantage.
Hampshire started the onslaught with singles by Charlie Ashton and Call (bunt), then Cosner notched an RBI single.
Chazalynn Keller garnered an RBI single and Ryleigh Frazier created an RBI fielder’s choice to close the gap 7-4.
The momentum continued for the Trojans as Natalie Sions made an RBI groundout and Madylnn Frye plated a run on an error, 7-6.
Ashton got on base with an error, then Call smashed a two-run producing double giving Hampshire an 8-7 lead.
Cosner connected for an RBI double and McVicker received a walk, then Ferguson hit an RBI single.
After a walk to Keller, two straight hit by pitch situations scored runs and two walks sent runs home for a 14-7 score.
East Hardy brought in Jaylynn Combs to pitch, then a walk, error and two more free passes created a 17-7 advantage before Armentrout made a diving catch off a deflection to prevent further damage.
Mills hit a single for the Cougars, then Jaylynn Combs drew a walk before a strikeout and pickoff.
Armentrout received a walk, then a double steal occurred before an out on Heishman due to interference.
The Trojans failed to add to the lead in the fourth inning as the Cougars defense created fielder’s choice plays.
East Hardy chipped away at the deficit in the fourth inning loading the bases as Moyers was walked, Ginger Combs reached base on an error and McReynolds singled.
Mills launched a bases clearing triple with the help of an errant throw as the Cougars made it 17-10.
Jaylynn Combs was walked, then Bauserman hit an RBI groundout.
Armentrout garnered an inside-the-park home run for an 17-13 score.
In the sixth inning, Armentrout smashed a solo home run and Moyers notched an RBI groundout scoring Heishman after a double for an 17-15 score.
Hampshire added insurance runs in the seventh inning for a 21-15 lead.
Dove drew a walk for the Cougars, but was stranded on three straight strikeouts by Cosner to close the game for the Trojans in the 21-15 win.
“That was a wild game. I don’t know that I have been a part of a game like that for a while now. Out of seven innings, we don’t score for five of them. However, we scored 17 runs in one inning and five in another. We needed to punch runs across and the girls came through for us. That’s our top for runs scored this season. We got down by seven runs and didn’t hang our heads and kept battling back. I am proud of my girls for that fight,” Hampshire coach Kevin Combs concluded.
