By Stephen Smoot
It did not quite play out the same as in Baker, but the result remained the same.
A few weeks ago, the Wildcats walked into Baker and handled the East Hardy Cougars with relative ease, earning a 15-0 win. This time, it took every bit of Susan Vincell’s mound magic to secure the win against a Cougar team full of fight.
East Hardy could produce nothing in the first inning against Vincell, but Callie Judy got on in the bottom of the inning by dropping a bunt that died directly in front of home plate. Her hustling sprint down the first base line outpaced the throw.
In the course of the next two at bats, Judy made her way to third. When a two balls and one strike pitch sailed over the catcher’s glove, Judy scampered home and scored the first run of the game.
Wildcat bats remained silent for much of the game, but Vincell’s masterful performance meant that first run would have been enough. She pitched a complete game shutout, allowing a single hit, but also fanning 18 Cougars.
Pendleton County mounted a threat in the third when Judy was nailed by a pitch. Jess Parker followed by hitting a ground ball to third and reaching safely. With two on, the East Hardy pitcher buckled down and struck out the last two Wildcats to close that half of the inning.
One more run would cross in the game. Lexi Tingler led off in the bottom of the fifth and reached second on an error. During Parker’s at bat, the Cougar pitcher threw a brush back pitch that got away from the catcher. Tingler took third. On the three and one count, a passed ball sent Tingler running. Her head first slide beat the play and that set the final score of 2-0.
The same week saw a narrow loss, 1-2, to Class AAA Musselman. Despite a nine and 13 record, they have solid wins on the season, including over mutual opponent Spring Mills. The Wildcats scored first in the first, but the Applemen eked out runs in the third and then in the seventh to escape with the win.
That said, the Wildcats notched a 9-6 win over Class AA East Fairmont.
The last weeks of the season feature mostly regional rivals, with games against Moorefield, Tucker County, Pocahontas County and others as the team prepares for postseason play.
