Three girls from three different schools in Tyler and Wetzel counties came together June 3 to lead their team to a strong 6-3 win in the OVAC All-Star softball game.

Tyler Consolidated’s Kaitlyn Goudy, Paden City’s Vicki Yurisko, and Magnolia’s Corrine Murdock ended up being major components of the West Virginia offense, as timely hitting led to over half of the team’s runs.

The trio of unlikely teammates came together in the sixth inning to provide four runs and ended up being the deciding factor for the Mountaineers.

Yurisko actually tuned up the offense earlier, scoring West Virginia’s second run of the game.

In the opening frame, John Marshall’s Shelby Wilson scored the first run when fellow Monarch Dee Gamble doubled into left-center, following a two-out sacrifice bunt by Parkersburg South’s Katelyn Porter.

Yurisko took advantage with a single, allowing Wilson to score and giving the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead.

Eventually Ohio would tie the game with runs in the third and sixth innings, but West Virginia would get things going again in the bottom of the sixth.

The rally began when Goudy, selected for her pitching abilities reached first on a well-placed bunt and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice.

Gamble reached on an error and Yurisko followed, taking a base on balls. That set up Murdock, who blasted a triple into right-center, plating Goudy, Gamble, and Yurisko to move the score to 5-2.

Cameron’s Janet Peterson singled Murdock home for the sixth and final West Virginia run. Ohio got another run in the seventh, but not enough to overcome a 6-3 advantage by the Mountaineers.

Overall, West Virginia was outhit by the Buckeyes 11-7, but all of Ohio’s hits were singles. The Mountaineers had three extra-base hits. Ohio also stranded 10 runners including eight in scoring position.

Goudy was part of the quintet of West Virginia pitchers that struck out 11 Buckeyes. Yurisko resumed her normal catching duties while Murdock split time between right field and first base.