SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Rhythm was tough to come by throughout Wednesday’s Class A state tournament matchup between No. 2 Sherman and seventh-seeded Greenbrier West.
The teams battled several brief weather delays and stoppages and restarts were among the more consistent aspects of the contest.
Sherman scored twice in the third to play from in front, then responded well to a late charge from the Cavaliers with a four spot in the sixth that allowed the Tide to pull away for a 7-2 win on Rock Field B at Little Creek Park.
“To score first, your confidence gets up and that’s a big thing,” Sherman coach Terri Williams said. “If they score first, who knows what happens? You can start pressing and swinging at balls. For us to score early, it helped us stay patient at the plate and get some more hits.”
The contest was scoreless through two innings and Sherman (22-11) starting pitcher Molly Tagliente retired Greenbrier West (15-10) in order in the third before getting run support in the bottom of that frame.
An error to start that inning allowed No. 9 hitter Lilly Casto to reach and was followed by a Makayla Harless single.
A successful sacrifice bunt from Audriana Smith moved both runners into scoring position and SHS gained the lead moments later when Lexie Lowe drove in a pair with a double to center.
“I told them the team with the most errors wouldn’t walk away with a win, and that’s what happened,” Cavaliers’ coach Steve Fields said, noting the four his team committed to Sherman’s one error.
Sherman made it 3-0 in the fourth when Casto doubled with two outs to plate Addie Dickens.
Following a brief delay in the top of the fifth, Greenbrier West got on the scoreboard via Brilee Redden’s triple that went to the left field wall and brought home teammate Ella Berry.
Sherman was still on top 3-1 in the sixth when things got more interesting following yet another delay of only 8 minutes.
This time, the Cavaliers put together a two-out rally that featured a Gracie Rhodes single and Jenna Hunter’s triple that caused a collision between the left fielder and centerfielder and enabled Rhodes to score and the tying run to be at third.
“Things like that happen sometimes, but we had to keep calm and get ready for the next batter — and they did that,” Williams said.
Edens then popped out to second, allowing Sherman to preserve its lead, and the Tide added to it in a big way in the bottom of that inning.
A two-out throwing error extended the bottom of the sixth and Williams’ team would soon take full advantage of the miscue as Harless singled and Smith worked a walk to load the bases.
Lowe followed with a two-run single for a 5-2 lead and when Ellie Jeffrey tripled to left, it brought two more in for Sherman, which had its largest lead of five runs at that point.
“You take that error away and it’s still a 3-2 game, but they happen and they’re part of the game,” Fields said. “We just have to try to move forward and get the next one. We’re not done yet.”
Tagliente worked around Layla Williams’ leadoff single in the seventh to finish off a complete game in which she struck out five, walked a pair and allowed seven hits.
“The nerves are everywhere, but to come here and battle for two and-a-half hours through rain delays and come away with a win is big in the first game,” Williams said.
Redden took the loss after allowing seven runs, only three of which were earned, on 10 hits. She struck out seven and walked a pair in six innings.
Harless led Sherman with three hits and Lowe and Jeffrey added two apiece.
The Cavaliers will battle No. 3 Ritchie County on Thursday in an elimination game as a result of a revised schedule, while No. 2 Sherman will take on No. 6 Man in a winner’s bracket matchup.
“We have a team of fighters,” Williams said. “We never give up. We continue to fight and now we move on to Man.”