Moorefield 1,

Magnolia 0,

Mallory Chapman tossed a complete game no-hitter, striking out 12 May 29 at Vienna Park. But a two-base error, a sacrifice bunt, and a wild pitch would end the Lady Eagles’ run for a state championship, when they lost 1-0 to the Moorefield Yellow Jackets in the WVSSAC Class-A semi-finals.

Chapman sat down eight of the first 10 Lady ‘Jackets on strikes, mixed with a flyout and a walk. However, the Lady Eagles only mustered a Audrey Gibb walk in the first, a Stephanie Mullett bunt single, and an Emily Clegg walk in the second. Ashley Moore reached on a bunt, while Chapman was robbed of a hit on a nice play by the Lady ‘Jacket second baseman in the third. The Eagles went down in order on strikes in the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, Moorefield’s first batter hit a liner to Abby Durig at short. She back-handed the smash and fired it to third, but the ball skipped by Katie Blatt at first and rolled into the outfield for a two-base error.

Chapman struck out the next batter, but the following batter sacrificed a teammate to third. Chapman let go a wild pitch that got away from Gibb, with the runner scampering home for the score. Chapman struck out the next batter to end the fourth with Moorefield holding on to a 1-0 lead.

Moore beat out a two-out-bunt and Gibb would then drill a single to right center, moving Moore to third. Chapman then drilled a liner to right, but it landed in the right fielder’s glove for the final out of the inning.

Chapman struck out two in the fifth and Magnolia went down in order in the sixth. However, the Eagles went down in order in their last two at bats, with Moorefield moving on to the championship game, sending home the Lady Eagles.

Buffalo 6,

Magnolia 0

The two-time defending state champion Buffalo Bisons scored a run before the rains fell and suspended play in the top of the fourth, then went on to defeat Magnolia 6-0 in the second game of the Class-A State Softball Tournament May 28 at Jackson Park in Vienna.

With a steady rain starting to fall in the top of the fourth, the Lady Bisons reached on a one-out single, followed by an REI double to give Buffalo the lead. Shortly later, the game was halted and eventually suspended until Thursday.

When the game resumed the next morning, Buffalo changed its tactics to small ball and took advantage of some MHS fielding errors to take control. Magnolia would then go to senior Erinn Clegg to finish the game. Clegg pitched well, striking out four and giving up four hits in two innings of work. Chapman sat down the first 10 batters she faced, while striking out four batters and giving up two-hits in four innings of play.

Magnolia 4,

Sherman 2

Davianne Croasmun smacked a solo home run and drove in three runs to lead Magnolia past Sherman 4-2 in the opener of the WVSSAC Class-A Championships May 28.

Magnolia didn’t start off well in the first game, giving up an error to the Tide’s first batter. Chapman would then strike out the next batter, but a passed ball, followed by an REI single, gave the Tide a 1-0 lead.

Magnolia topped that in the home-half. Moore walked and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and Chapman walked, putting runners at the corners. A wild pitch that got away from the Sherman catcher started Moore home. But, a nice play by Moorefield’s catcher to her pitcher at the plate erased Moore at home for the second out of the inning. Chapman hustled to third and Abby Durig scampered to second. Croasmun then pounced on a 2-2 pitch off the Tide’s third baseman for a two-REI single, giving the Eagles a 2-1 advantage after one inning of play.

Chapman struck out three and walked one in the second frame and Emily Clegg was robbed of a base hit in the bottom of the second. However, twin sister Erinn singled and was doubled up on a nice play by the Sherman catcher and first baseman to end the second.

The Tide came roaring back in the third. After a flyout to right, Sherman singled to left. After a Chapman wild pitch, another Magnolia error would put runners on the corners. Then, following an uncontested stolen base, the Tide would score their second unearned run on another Chapman wild pitch. But after a walk and stolen base, Emily Clegg would make a nice catch in right to end the Sherman threat with the game knotted at two.

Moore singled for her second straight hit of the game, but a nice 5-4-3 double play a batter later ended with the game still knotted at two. Chapman sat down the Tide in order in the fourth.

Croasmun smashed a Sherman fastball over the left field fence for her third home run of the season, and her first in the state tournament, to give Magnolia a 3-2 advantage. Chapman again sat the Tide down in order in the fifth.

After a strike out to open the home half, Moore reached on an error, hustled to second on the play, and would score the final tally on another Sherman error.

Magnolia ended its season with an 18-16 record and gave up seniors Chapman, Moore, Jordan Grimm, Mullett, Erinn and Emily Clegg to graduation.