Moorefield 10-12 Softball All-Stars won the West Virginia Little League District 6 Championship in Inwood. Next stop: State Tournament in Charleston.
Grilling time: Moorefield All-Stars stoked the coals and fired up the runs to cook up the West Virginia Little League 10-12 Softball District 6 Championship 7-1 over Hedgesville in Inwood to earn a trip to the state tournament.
Moorefield 10-12 Softball All-Stars pitcher Rebecca Liller smoked Hedgesville with nine strikeouts and allowed just four hits in the championship win.
Hedgesville 10-12 Softball All-Stars jumped out to a 1-nil edge in the opening frame as Elika singled after a dropped third strike out and scored on a groundout by Emma.
Brielle singled and was stranded on a strikeout by Liller.
Moorefield leadoff batter Klyan Markwood struck out, then Liller jumped on base with a single up the middle.
Harper Hunt followed with a blooper into right field for a single.
Kylee threw a wild pitch which created a double steal, then struck out Naomi Markwood.
Liller and Hunt both scored on passed balls elevating Moorefield into the lead 2-1.
Moorefield’s Bella Linville reached base on an error, but Hedgesville closed the frame with a strikeout on Kate Cumberland.
Hedgesville went down in order in the top of the second inning as Liller tossed a strikeout before inducing back-to-back groundouts collected by third baseman Darah See and Liller over to first baseman Naomi Markwood.
Moorefield wasn’t able to add to the lead in the second inning, despite a single and fielder’s choice.
After a groundout by Moorefield’s Nellee Sevilla, Darah See singled into right field for Moorefield.
Anna-Leia Champ hit into a fielder’s choice and Avelyn Bean flew out on a shot into center field to end the inning.
Hedgesville bowed out quickly in the third inning as Liller sandwiched two strikeouts around groundout fielded by second baseman Harper Hunt.
Moorefield’s Aubrey Hose grounded out to start the frame, then Kylan Markwood connected for a single on a laser down the left field line.
After a strikeout to Liller, Hunt notched a single on a towering shot just over the second baseman placing runners on the corners before Naomi Markwood lined out to third base leaving the ducks on the pond.
Liller induced a groundout to commence the fourth inning against Hedesville, then sandwiched strikeouts around an error to retire the side.
Linville grounded out and Cumberland was thrown out on a dropped third strike before Moorefield hopped on base with a single by Sevilla ripped into left field and was stranded on a fly ball from See to the center fielder.
Moorefield right fielder Aubrey Hose caught a fly ball to begin the fifth inning, then Hedgsvirlle grounded out and struck out on pitches from Liller.
Champ received a free pass in the bottom of the fifth inning for Moorefield and remained at first base on a pop-out by Bean.
Champ stole second base and dashed to third base on a blooper from Hose into shallow left center field.
Moorefield’s Kylan Markwood executed a bunt single extending the lead to 3-1 and the momentum continued as Liller launched a fly ball into right field where it was fumbled allowing one run to score.
Markwood scored on a wild pitch and Liller scored on a pickoff error boosting Moorefield’s advantage to 6-1.
Hunt grounded out, but Moorefield wasn’t finished at the plate as Naomi Markwood and Bella Linville smacked back-to-back singles.
Cumberland loaded the bases dashing to first base on a dropped third strike.
Moorefield took a 7-1 lead as Sevilla drew a walk sending home Markwood and the rest were stranded on a groundout by See.
Hedgesville’s Kaylee and Ava sandwiched singles around a strikeout in the sixth inning, but Moorefield sealed the District 6 championship with a game-ending double play as Liller fielded a grounder over to first baseman Naomi Markwood, who fired home to catcher Bella Linville for the final out.
Moorefield was excited to receive the District 6 championship banner with the 7-1 final score and punched the state ticket.
Hedgesville took the District 6 runner-up spot with a 13-6 win over Hampshire in order to join Moorefield at the state tournament in South Charleston on July 5.
