SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Lewie Wickline is a firm believer Point Pleasant’s softball team is capable of better performances than the two it put forth Tuesday in the WVSSAC Class AAA State Softball Tournament.
For the time being, the second showing in an elimination matchup with Robert C. Byrd will have to do as it allows the Big Blacks to play at least one more game.
No. 4 seed Point Pleasant scored 10 runs across the first three innings and largely had its way in an 11-3 five-inning victory against the No. 8 Eagles at The Rock Field B at Little Creek Park.
“We’re still tight and still doing things that I don’t teach, but I believe it’s because they’re not used to being here and they don’t want their season to end,” Wickline said. “I have six seniors and they don’t want it to end, so they’re playing a little tight at times. But playing these two games and having some time overnight, we’ll come back tomorrow and be ready.”
Hours after squandering a late two-run lead in an 8-5 loss to Keyser, PPHS (26-9) fell behind RCB (15-19) in the top of the first as the Eagles’ Chloe Barlow scored from third on a throwing error with two outs.
But Wickline’s team didn’t trail for long, pulling even in its first at bat when Chloe Patrick crossed the plate on a wild pitch and gaining the lead for good on a two-run home run to right off the bat of Bralee Roush.
“These girls, over the last six weeks, have felt they’re the best team on the field when they walked on it,” Wickline said. “Today, it’s been tough on them and at times hard on their confidence, but they’re resilient.”
The Eagles drew two base-on-balls but failed to score in the second, and when they came to bat in the third, their deficit had grown to six runs.
Point’s four-run second was highlighted by a run-scoring double from Patrick and Josie Shobe’s two-run single.
After committing eight errors in a loss to John Marshall earlier Tuesday, the Eagles had five this time around.
“We have to cutdown on mistakes,” Eagles’ coach Mary Mayer said. “Hopefully, now that we’ve been here, we’re going to make it a habit, come back next year and not be so nervous and make fewer mistakes.”
RCB got a two-run single from Sameria Butler in the top of the third to trim its deficit to four, but any momentum the Eagles garnered was short-lived as Patrick connected for a three-run home run in the bottom of that inning to make it 10-3.
After a scoreless fourth, Patrick ended the matchup early by driving in a run with an infield single in the fifth.
For Patrick, that finished off a 4-for-4 performance that included five RBI.
“I was proud of her,” Wickline said. “We let her go right or left. It’s her choice and whatever she feels confident with. She did a good job tonight and hopefully she continues that tomorrow.”
Rylan McKnight and Mazey Thomas split the pitching duties for Point and recorded seven and eight outs, respectively. Thomas picked up the win.
Four Eagles had one hit apiece in the season-ending setback, which saw Chloe Barlow and Torrin Strawderman pitch two innings each.
“I think there were seven freshmen and sophomores on the field,” Mayer said, “so definitely a lot to build on, but we have to work.”