PETERSBURG, W.Va. — Petersburg scored early and often and took advantage of nine free passes to defeat Doddridge County, 11-2, in a five-inning run-rule finish to open the three-game Class A, Region II region championship series.
“Big win. It was nice to finally get some hitting and put up some runs,” said Petersburg head coach Bubba Hedrick after the Vikings offense had only scored four runs in their previous two games combined.
It’s the third year in a row Petersburg (24-8) and Doddridge County (22-9) have played for a trip to the state tournament. The Vikings won the previous two series.
The longball early has been the script for the Vikings lately as lone senior Samantha Colaw launched a two-run home run after Cheyenne Sites reached fon a one-out single in the bottom half of the first inning.
Doddridge County evened the game in the top of the third.
Riley Myers doubled to right center and Olivia See drove her in on a ground ball through the right side of the infield. After See took second on a stolen base, Hadley Ross hit a hard ground ball to Miley Tingler at short that bounced off her wrist and found its way into the outfield scoring See from second tying the game at 2.
The Vikings offense took advantage of four walks in the bottom of the third.
Shyane Tawney and Sites worked walks and Colaw was given an intentional free pass after her long ball loaded the bases for Tingler. Tingler lifted a fly ball that was deep enough to allow Tawney to tag up and score. Ella Chew laced a double over the head of the left fielder scoring both Sites and Colaw for a 5-2 lead.
Similar to the third, the Vikings continued to put quality at-bats together and push six runs across in the fourth.
Gracie Carpenter led off with a single and Olivia Kimble put down a sacrifice bunt. Tawney worked an eight-pitch walk putting runners at second and first. After a Sites pop-out, Colaw was given another intentional walk loading the bases yet again for Tingler.
Tingler watched four straight pitches outside the zone as Carpenter walked home.
While at third, Tawney got in a pickle as the catcher caught her off the bag. Tawney was able to stay in a rundown long enough to sneak her way home and score.
Chew again was walked loading the bases for Addison Kitzmiller. On an 0-2 count, Kitzmiller unloaded the bases on a ball that off the bat looked like it had potential to leave the park. It didn’t, but the double cleared the bases to give the Vikings a 10-2 lead.
Pinch hitter Lacey Moyers scored the final run of the game as she hit a hard line drive right up the middle allowing Kitzmiller to score to push the lead to nine, 11-2.
Colaw worked around a one-out walk to retire the Bulldogs in the top of the fifth to allow the Vikings to win an all-important Game 1 of the regional championship. Colaw tossed a complete game allowing just two hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out five.
Senior Mckenna Curran took the loss for Doddridge County. She pitched all four innings and allowed six hits, 11 runs on nine walks while striking out six.
Kitzmiller drove in three runs going one for two at the plate followed by Chew, Tingler and Colaw each driving in a pair of runs respectively.
“Each day is different,” Hedrick said. “We have to celebrate this but be mindful moving forward that tomorrow is different. We need to bring that same focus and intent tomorrow and go out and try to get a win.”
Petersburg travels to West Union today for Game 2 beginning at 6 p.m.