Magnolia Softball Semi-Regional

It didn’t take the Magnolia Lady Eagles long to punch their ticket to next week’s West Virginia Class-AA Region I final against the Lady Rebels of Ritchie County. In about 45 minutes, Magnolia got past Weir, 8-0, in five innings. After hurler Tori Tharp sat the Red Riders in order, the Eagles’ lead-off batter, Dallas Mullett, drilled a standup double down the third base line. Abbey Horner would beat out a sweet bunt that put runners on the corner. Marrisa Bosley then drilled a liner over the head of the left fielder to clear the bases, and held up at second for a stand-up double. Tharp then rifled one to second base for the first out of the inning, moving the Eagles’ courtesy runner to third. Mallory Chapman walked and was put out at second on a fielder’s choice. Jordan Babe would then reach on an error and would score on a Gabby Hostetler single to right for a 4-0 lead after one inning of play. The Eagles sent nine batters to the plate, scoring four and leaving two on. After striking out the first two batters in the second, Tharp would give up a bloop single and hit a batter, before ending the frame with a harmless pop out to Makensie Dawson at second base. Mullett added another double in the second and a solo home run in the third, while Bosley added a single. Tharp would help herself out at the plate with two singles, while Emily Blake added a single and a double to add to the Eagle total. Tharp scattered five hits, struck out 10 and walked only one in the mercy-rule shorted game. This is the fifth consecutive year the Lady Eagles have advanced to the regional finals on Coach Mark Batton’s watch, losing two previous regionals in extra innings. But Batton, who last fall guided the Magnolia football team to its first state championship in nearly 40 years, believes it’s time to get over the hump. ”It’s a game of outs,” he said. ”We have to make the outs, generate runs and play good, solid defense. If we can do that, anything can happen.” Magnolia and Ritchie County will hook up in Rebel territory Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. with a trip to Vienna’s Jackson Park and the state tournament on the line.

Region I Baseball Sectionals

The Paden City Wildcats and the Valley Lumberjacks ended their baseball seasons in the Region One Sectionals in Cameron. The ‘Jacks would send the ‘Cats home after a 8-3 drubbing, while Valley was sent home by the Dragons May 13 after a 17-7 defeat. The Lumberjacks scored five runs in the first inning, three more in the third and held off a gallant Wildcat comeback to move to the championship matchup with Cameron. Kyle Postlewait took the loss from the rubber for the ‘Cats. He struck out three and walked five. James Stewart was a double shy of hitting for the cycle for Paden City. Phillip Bassett was the winning pitcher for Valley, striking out eight. The big bats for the Lumberjacks were Brandon Stoneking with a single and a home run and Alex Henderson with a pair of singles. ***** In the championship game, Cameron and Vaqlley combined for 16 runs in first four frames, but the Dragons would tally seven unanwsered runs to gain the Region One crown in a 17-7 victory. The big blow for Valley was a solo shot by Hunter Ring and three hits by Albert “A-Train” McGuane. Henderson took the loss from the mound. He struck out five and issued five passes. Paden City will lose only one player to graduation in Zach Yost, while the Lumberjacks will graduate five seniors: Cody Bassett, Phillip Bassett, Cody Bates, Alex Henderson and Cameron Price.