By Stephen Smoot
The fourth ranked Pendleton County Wildcats hosted a familiar foe in their first sectional game. After decisively defeating East Hardy in the first round, the Mountain Lions of Tucker County traveled to Franklin to play the Wildcats, who enjoyed a bye.
On a clear and beautiful day, both squads were welcomed by the aromas of agriculture emanating from nearby fields.
Pendleton County faced Tucker County more than almost any other opponent this spring. That familiarity may have led to a narrower-than-normal 6-1 victory in the last outing.
In their first inning of postseason play in 2024, the Wildcats had to work out some opening jitters. Three errors allowed the Mountain Lions to put two runners in scoring position, then allow one run to score, although that would not be credited to starting pitcher Baylee Beachler.
In the bottom of the first, Tucker County’s pitcher took an aggressive stance against leadoff hitter Avery Townsend, getting the first two pitches over for strikes, then forcing a foul ball. Townsend won the at bat, however, hitting a looper into shallow center, then taking advantage of the slow response to leg out a double.
Jenna Smith appeared next, laying off four straight pitches out of the strikezone as Townsend stole third base.
With runners at the corners, Beachler came up to hit. Smith stole second during her at bat. Beachler then got a base hit, knocking Townsend in to tie the game at one run. Madison Arbaugh went in for Beachler as a courtesy runner, stealing second during Jessica Parker’s at bat. Parker worked the pitcher to a full count, then earned a walk to load the bases.
Two batters later, with one out, Julia Mongold crushed a triple, sending three runs in. She scored when Kate Hedrick hit a sacrifice ground ball, extending the lead to 5-1.
Beachler then returned to the mound and closed off any notions of a Tucker County response to the big Wildcat inning. She struck out all three batters, only throwing two called balls in the entire half-inning. Mountain Lion pitching similarly silenced Wildcat bats in the bottom of the second.
In the bottom of the third, Pendleton County got back on the scoreboard. Beachler led off with a single to left field in which she seemingly was fooled by an off-speed pitch, but still adjusted and got the head of the bat on the ball with force. Parker got on next, courtesy of a fielder’s error.
Two batters later, with two on board, Hedrick launched a shot to the right field wall on the eighth pitch tossed to her, pushing the lead to 7-1.
In the top of the fourth, Beachler struck out the first batter, then allowed a single. The third batter of the inning struck out, but the next hit a towering fly ball to shallow right field. Mongold got a bad jump on the play, but sprinted toward the ball, caught it in a dead run, and retired the side.
With the game well in hand, Pendleton County continued to push for the knockout blow in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Smith smacked a pitch into left field for a double. Later in the inning with two outs, Parker walked on four pitches to load the bases. Lizzie Alt stepped in and earned a walk and a run batted in. Mongold followed next and belted a base hit to left field, scoring two of the runners already on, setting the score at 10-1.
Still with two outs, Hedrick hit a line drive to left center field, entering second standing up and sending in two more runs. Nataley Hedrick then joined the hit parade with her own double to center, sending in the 13th and final run of the game.
Tucker County hit a triple in the top of the fifth, but three other batters succumbed to Beachler, ending the inning and the game.
This gave the squad a crucial opening victory in the tournament style sectionals.