PETERSBURG, W.Va. — After losing to Petersburg, 6-1 on May 1, the Moorefield Yellow Jackets knew they would need to win five consecutive elimination games to claim the Class A Region II, Section 1 championship.
MHS is seven innings away from accomplishing that feat after collecting a 3-1 win at Petersburg Thursday afternoon. The sectional, which is the last of the 24 tournaments statewide still in play, will wrap up with a winner-take-all contest Friday at 6 p.m. in Petersburg.
“They’re going to come back firing for us [Friday]. We have to come back just as hard as we did today,” said Moorefield head coach Bridget Sions. “Stay focused and give it all you’ve got. It is do-or-die time so we have to put things together and keep rolling.”
The Jackets (18-9) took the lead three batters into the game. MHS starting pitcher Amber Williams opened the scoring with a single to send leadoff batter McKenna Crites to the plate.
Petersburg (22-8) answered in the fourth inning. Ella Chew scored on a throwing error to tie the game at 1.
Moorefield regained the advantage in the sixth. Seanna Heavner doubled off the fence in right field to send Carlee Haynes home.
“Seanna is gaining some confidence back in herself. She is a great hitter and she does really well under pressure. I had no doubt in my mind that she could do it. I try to teach them to believe in yourself as much as I believe in you. She did that.”
The Yellow Jackets doubled their lead in the seventh. Gracie Simmons singled to left and scored after a pair of throwing errors.
The Vikings placed the tying run on second base in the bottom of the seventh with two out. However, Williams induced a pop out to end the game. Williams allowed four hits and struck out nine batters in the complete game victory.
“Amber has heart. She threw the whole game yesterday for us and today she came out and she gave everything that she had. She told her teammates she was going to fight and give every ounce of her heart that she possibly could. That’s what she did.”
Simmons, Haynes and Heavner each had multi-hit games for the Yellow Jackets.
PHS starting pitcher Samantha Colaw went the distance in the circle, striking out seven batters and allowing two earned runs.
The winner of Friday’s decisive game will face Doddridge County in a regional best-of-three series with the winner advancing to the state tournament. PHS is 3-1 against MHS this season.