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Big Reds fall to defending champion Hurricane, 11-1

Hurricane’s Jayme Bailey rounds second base after hitting a game-ending home run in an 11-1 Class AAA regional victory over Parkersburg Tuesday. Parkersburg’s Maddi Leggett (12) looks on. Photo courtesy of Chris Dorst, The Gazette-Mail.

HURRICANE — Parkersburg struck for its first run of the Class AAA Region IV championship series in the first inning in the second game on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead over two-time defending champion Hurricane right out of the gate.

On the surface, getting a little momentum early was a good thing for the Big Reds (20-15). But any thoughts about Hurricane perhaps coming out a bit lethargic with a 1-0 series lead were eradicated as soon as Parkersburg’s run crossed home plate.

Four straight hits to lead off the bottom of the first by Kiersten Landers, Jayme Bailey, Katie Adams and Caiti Mathes plated a pair of runs and the Redskins (33-1) were off and running.

The final blow came on a three-run home run to left field from Bailey in the bottom of the fifth, necessitating the mercy rule and giving Hurricane an 11-1 win, the Region 4 championship and another ticket to next week’s state tournament in Vienna.

“I was just praying I got a hit,” Bailey said. “Just praying I got on base and got some people in.”

Bailey had three hits on the night, including a run-scoring double in the first inning, to give her four RBIs for the game. Adams went 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI and it was all part of a 12-hit barrage a night after the Redskins cranked out 14 of them in a 14-0 win in six innings on the road to seize control of the series.

“And I thought we didn’t hit the ball well the first couple of innings,” Hurricane coach Josh Caldwell said. “We squeezed, moved some runners over and got loosened up a bit. We’ve got that potential for sure, to put a lot of runs up.”

Indeed, runs came in a variety of ways. Mathes, Paige Scruggs and Tori Green each had RBI squeeze bunts, while Bailey, Adams and Lindsey Phares each notched run-scoring extra-base hits.

All of it was an answer to the opening tally from Parkersburg as Rylee Boggess led off with a single and advanced to third on an error. Two batters later, Janna Yost drove in Boggess with a single to left.

But that would be all the damage Hurricane pitcher Harlie Vannatter would allow. She struck out eight, walked none and gave up just five hits, allowing her offense and defense to do the rest.

“I don’t think we were expecting that but we kind of shut them down after the first inning,” Adams said. “The first couple innings of both games we came out pretty flat but we knew we’d hit the ball and our pitcher Harlie does a great job so we weren’t worried.”

Hurricane will arrive in Vienna next week looking for a third straight state title and a fourth in five years.

But for Parkersburg and a group of eight seniors, Tuesday marked a bit of a bittersweet goodbye and without their leader in attendance.

Coach Ron Perdue went to the hospital Monday night with chest pains and was held overnight for testing. All signs pointed positively as of Tuesday afternoon, but he was unable to make the trip with the team, yielding to assistant Jason Roberts.

It was hardly an ideal spot with his team’s back to the wall, on the road against a two-time defending state champion.

“This is a good, resilient group, but that Hurricane team is tough,” Roberts said. “Top to bottom, that’s the toughest team in the state. They’ve earned every bit of it. They’ve earned the praise.

“I’m very proud of our girls. Our Parkersburg girls are four-time sectional champions, and before these girls our program hardly ever won a game.”

Kacie Roberts notched the Big Reds’ only extra-base hit with a double in the fourth inning. Kelsey Flemming also singled in that frame, but her hit was sandwiched by a pair of strikeouts for Vannatter and the threat went begging.

Mathes finished 2 for 3 with an RBI for Hurricane. Seven of the Redskins’ nine hitters had at least a hit and seven also notched at least one RBI.

Williamstown evens series with Sherman

SETH — Williamstown bounced back with a 3-1 win at Sherman Tuesday to force a game three at 5 p.m. today in the Class A, Region IV championship.

After falling to Sherman Monday, the Yellowjackets (18-14) got a stellar performance from Nellie King in the pitcher’s circle in game two. King surrendered just one run on three hits to earn the win. She fanned five and walked two in the complete game effort.

King also drove in Williamstown’s first run to give the ‘Jackets an early lead. Sherman tied it up in the fourth, but Williamstown answered right back in the sixth with RBIs from Kristin Harmon and Alexis Schreckengost. King kept Sherman off the board in the final three innings to seal the deal.

Harmon finished a home run short of the cycle, doubling and tripling in her 3 for 4 effort at the dish. Courtney Dotson also was 3 for 4 at the plate with a double and two stolen bases. Schreckengost was 2 for 3.

Today’s game will be played in Williamstown, with the winner claiming a spot in next week’s state tournament.

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