MASON, W.Va. — Nearly six hours after the first pitch was thrown to open the championship round in the Class A Region IV, Section 2 tournament, Wahama scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to keep their season alive with an 11-10 win over Gilmer County.
After Elissa Hoffman doubled to score Payton Staats to even the game at 10, Zoie Mayes’ run-scoring single sent Hoffman to the plate with the winning run, securing a spot in the regional round for the White Falcons (25-5).
“I had a feeling. I had a feeling,” said Wahama head coach Wes Riffle of Mayes’ game-winning hit. “She has come up clutch for us multiple times this year. I told her right before she got to bat to just keep doing what you have been doing all night long. As soon as she made contact, I knew it was going through. It was a clutch moment for a clutch player.”
Gilmer County (24-8) forced the winner-take-all second game by winning the opener, 8-3. In Game 1, Wahama jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. However, the Titans scored eight runs in the third inning following a 70-minute weather delay.
GCHS kept the momentum into the second game, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. Wahama responded with a four-run third inning to give the White Falcons their first lead in over three hours. Three-time state champion and Ohio University pitcher Mikie Lieving spoke with the White Falcons in between games.
“It was a big momentum swing. We lost the first game and I thought the girls bounced back pretty well. I don’t know if it was because they talked to Mikie in the outfield and got a little pregame prep. But we got those runs and we knew we could get on it. The girls stayed positive from there. So it was a big inning for us.”
From there, a seesaw slugfest ensued. Gilmer evened the score at 4 in the fourth before Wahama responded with three runs to take a 7-4 lead. The White Falcons led 9-6 going into the top of the seventh. However, Gilmer scored four runs to take a 10-9 lead. Down to their final out, GCHS freshman Kenley Hartshorn hit a two-run home run to straightaway centerfield to tie the game at 9. Gilmer’s next batter, Kaydee Martin tripled and later scored on a throwing error to give the Titans a 10-9 advantage.
Senior and West Virginia State signee Elissa Hoffman pitched all 14 innings of the doubleheader for Wahama.
“She’s a warrior. I didn’t feel like she tired,” Riffle said. “She digs deep and finds a way to get it done for her team.”
Wahama returns to the regional round where they will face Sherman in a best-of-three series starting on Monday. The White Falcons are seeking their fourth state title in five seasons.
“We might give the girls a day off tomorrow to kind of rest up and recoup a little bit. It is going to be a wild regional. Our section is tough. Gilmer is a great team. I really think we are two of the best teams in the state. Sherman I know has some good weapons. We are just going to prep and get ready.”
Mayes and Fiona Van Matre led Wahama with four hits in the doubleheader while Payton Staats and Hoffman each had three hits. Layla Smith had five hits for the Titans while Addison Godfrey, Emeri Hickman and Hartshorn each added three hits.