PETERSBURG, W.Va. — For the third time this season, Petersburg was victorious over Moorefield, 6-1, this time in the Class A, Region II, Section 1 playoffs.
The Vikings’ offense got started in the first inning when the third batter of the game, Samantha Colaw, sent a long ball over the fence in left field giving the Vikings an early 2-0 lead.
Ella Chew followed suit and left the yard to center giving the Vikings back-to-back home runs extending an early lead to 3-0.
“The biggest thing for us is that we want to get on top of them,” Petersburg head coach Bubba Hedrick said. “They are a team if you keep them in a game, they will get you. It’s happened to us.”
The early power proved to be enough offense for Colaw. She limited Moorefield to one run on five hits while striking out seven. Colaw picked up her 13th victory on the season.
Amber Williams took the loss for the Yellow Jackets while tossing six innings allowing six runs, eight hits while striking out six.
Moorefield’s lone run came by a leadoff home run by senior McKenna Crites in the top of the third inning.
Petersburg answered back in the bottom of the fourth by manufacturing a run. Blair Loy was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Cheyenne Sites put down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Loy to advance to second. Olivia Kimble came through with a two-out single to score Loy to push the lead to 4-1.
Two more Vikings came across the plate in the bottom of fifth.
Miley Tingler led off the inning with a double off the center field fence. Colaw singled through the middle and advanced to second on a relay throw in an unsuccessful attempt to get Tingler out at home. Chew advanced Colaw to third on a groundout which allowed Addison Kitzmiller to drive her in on a groundout to the second baseman.
“Sammy pitched well,” Hederick said. “Outside of the home run, they were not able get anything going against her. I would have liked to have seen a little more hitting but it’s playoff time, you have to win a game. It’s a win.”
Petersburg scored six runs on eight hits. Petersburg’s offense was led by Colaw going three for three with three ribbies. Shyane Tawney, Tingler, Chew, Kimble and Sites each tallied a hit for the Vikings.
Williams was the lone Yellow Jacket with multiple hits going 2 for 3.
Petersburg (21-7) will travel to Franklin to take on the Pendleton County in the section semifinals on Thursday at 6:00. Moorefield (14-9) will play host to East Hardy (2-18) Thursday in an elimination game.