By Stephen Smoot
One does not simply walk into a Class AAA home field, take on a school whose entire sports program motto is “pride,” and walk away with a resounding victory.
Yet last Tuesday, Pendleton County did just that.
Keyser’s sports facilities in March generally give anyone in attendance a tough time. The wind there in that month can reach relentless speeds, driving down the feel of already chilly temperatures. Simply standing on the field represents a test of endurance.
The Pendleton County High School Wildcat softball team came off an 8-0 loss to a Frankfort team supercharged by transfers under the relatively new, and also unfortunate, rules that free up the process. Keyser had annihilated Hampshire in the opening game for the team at 13-3 while also recording a narrow loss to Allegheny in Maryland.
Baylee Beachler took the mound for the Wildcats, facing off against the very capable Leighton Johnson who hurled for Keyser.
In the bottom of the first with one out, Riley Felton poked a Beachler pitch through the middle of the infield for a base hit.
This was notable in that it represented the Golden Tornadoes’ only hit of the contest.
Pendleton County approached Keyser’s pitcher with patience. They forced Johnson to go deep into counts and throw a lot of pitches, which affected her control going into the middle innings.
Wildcat hitters got going in the third inning. With one out, Avery Townsend knocked a ground ball into center field, but sped into second on a stand up double. During the next at bat, she stole to third base. With two outs, Jenna Smith drove a pitch into right field, allowing Townsend to score easily.
Lizzie Alt and Jessica Parker drew walks to load the bases. Susan Vincell swung and missed at her first pitch. She connected on the second pitch and sent a towering fly ball over the center field fences for a grand slam.
The half inning ended with the Wildcats building a commanding 5-0 advantage.
In the fourth and fifth innings, the pitchers resumed their stranglehold on scoring. Keyser hitters struggled to muster the bat speed to catch up with Beachler’s velocity, either missing completely or fouling to the first base side.
Wildcat hitters found the basepaths, but clutch pitches by Keyser shut down opportunities until the sixth inning. Jaiden Mitts led off with a four-pitch walk. A Townsend sacrifice sent her to second. Beachler, with two outs, drove the ball into centerfield and ran into second base. Mitts scored the run, making the lead 6-0.
Smith followed with a screaming line drive toward right that found the extended glove of the Golden Tornado second baseman.
Pendleton County threatened again in the seventh as Vincell singled with two outs. Bella Lockard followed with a ground ball single to left that kept Vincell from moving past second. Golden Tornado pitchers shut down the inning with a ground out by the next hitter.
Vincell came in to pitch the seventh inning. Compared to the right-handed Beachler’s fireball style, the southpaw Vincell provides almost a complete contrast as she mixes different pitches. The contrast between the two is designed to frustrate and fool opposing batters.
She got the first batter to ground out, but the second lofted a ball to shallow left field. Mitts charged hard, dove, and came up with the out.
Vincell got the third batter to strike out swinging on three pitches, and ending the game in favor of the Wildcats, 6-0.
Pendleton County batters picked up five hits and eight bases on balls in the contest.