Lincoln County’s West closes career with championship moment

VIENNA, W.Va. — Once Lincoln County grabbed a third-inning lead in the Class AAA state final, senior Brooke West made sure it stood up.

West closed out the game and her senior season by retiring 13 straight batters in a 2-0 victory over Musselman. Combined with Lincoln County’s state championship in 2011, Thursday’s win served as a crowning bookend to West’s high school career.

“Winning it my freshman year and again now for us three seniors, it’s an amazing feeling,” she said.

After West doubled and scored the game’s opening run on a singly by Brandi Isaacs, the left-hander turned sharp in the circle. Over the final four innings, Musselman managed to get only one ball out of the infield—a fly ball to center.

“She’s just amazing to watch and to coach to be around,” said Lincoln County coach Rod Hoover. “Everyone on this team has contributed, but she stands out. She’s carried all season.”

Megan Tully’s RBI single scored Isaacs with an insurance run in the fifth as Lincoln County (31-8) wrapped up a 3-0 stay at Jackson Memorial Park.

Musselman (28-5), after dropping Thursday’s opener 9-1 to the Panthers, rebounded with wins over Ripley and Wheeling Park to reach the final.

“I thought we came back and put up a fight,” said Musselman coach Shannon Demasi. “We’ve been pretty successful because the girls work hard and take pride in it. They played hard for me. I couldn’t ask anything more from them.”

Sophomore Sabrina Shroades took the loss while throwing a complete-game four-hitter.

ELIMINATION GAME

Musselman 6, Wheeling Park 1
Tori Butler reached base four times, scored three runs and provided the defensive play of the day as the Lady Applemen beat Wheeling Park in the losers-bracket final.

Musselman led 2-0 in the fifth when Wheeling Park put the potential tying runners in scoring position with one out. Carley Greer’s fly ball to medium center field appeared plenty deep to score a run, but Butler’s throw home easily beat pinch-runner Kasey Freshwater to complete an inning-ending double play.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Musselman piled on three runs to widen the gap. The first scored when Butler escaped a run down between third and home.

Brittany Ingram had two hits for the Lady Applemen, who were outhit 8-6 by the Patriots.

Morgan Karnell’s RBI single in the sixth scored the lone run for Wheeling Park, whose season ended at 19-8.

WINNERS-BRACKET FINAL

Lincoln County 2, Wheeling Park 0
Brooke West tossed a four-hitter and struck out six Thursday morning to send the Panthers into the championship round.

Whitney McKay went 3-for-3, including a single that played a role in Lincoln County’s two-run fourth. Kayla Jeffers’ RBI single scored the first run and Ashley Huffman’s sac-fly brought home the second.