By Stephen Smoot
One may wonder how the Wildcats could top a rout of rival Moorefield in their opener, but they found a way to do so in their second matchup of the season.
During the weeks when weather and cold kept Pendleton County off the field, Greenbrier West racked up a murderers’ row of titanic game results. They blew away Summers County in the opener 22-0. Three of their five wins saw them scoring more than 20 runs with the other two being shutouts.
Only a loss to double A Shady Spring put a blemish on their impressive record.
Then came a sojourn to windy Franklin and the Pendleton County Wildcats.
Pendleton County put up a run in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. Baylee Beachler was tasked at the start with keeping the burly bats of Greenbrier West at bay.
Clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Wildcats added insurance in the bottom of the third. Avery Townsend picked up a two out infield single, then saw Jenna Smith knock her in with a stand up triple.
In the top of the fourth, Beachler displayed her dominance of Greenbrier West, allowing one hit, but striking out the rest of those who faced her. Wildcat hitters came alive again in their half of the fourth, starting with Lizzie Alt getting a leadoff walk. Susan Vincell joined her on the bases with a walk of her own.
Jessica Parker lofted a hit to shallow centerfield to send in a run. Later in the inning, Smith drew a bases loaded walk to extend the lead to 4-0. Beachler also walked, sending in the fifth run of the day for her team.
Beachler set down Greenbrier West in order in the fifth, but the opposition’s new pitcher also temporarily quelled the Wildcat offense. Allie Vance took the mound in the sixth for Pendleton County, allowing a run, but no real damage.
Greenbrier West struggled with the high winds coming in from right field the entire game. One Wildcat shot to deep center was blown so wildly that the centerfielder ended up trying to catch the fly ball 15 feet away from where it landed.
A coach from the opposing dugout screamed in frustration, “I don’t know where the ball is going!”
Pendleton County, fortunately, did not allow the wind to factor against them. They scored two more in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a Parker single to right field. Townsend then stepped up to the plate. The wily Parker worked to distract the pitcher as she tried to focus on Townsend, acting as if she looked to steal a base. Townsend ended up lining a full count pitch to left field. Beachler then drove both in with a stand up triple.
At the conclusion of the Wildcats’ first week of play, they bested both a dangerous rival and also the fifth ranked team in single A, according to Max Preps.
The ceiling is still nowhere in sight for a Wildcat softball team with two college commits and likely more next level opportunities for other players to come.
