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Ritchie County’s Chloe Elliott holding out hope

Photo by Jay W. Bennett Ritchie County’s Chloe Elliott hurls a pitch at last year’s Little Kanawha Conference tournament at Glenville’s Sue Morris Sports Complex.

ELLENBORO — Spring has just started, but Ritchie County junior right-hander Chloe Elliott is trying to stay sharp just in case there’s a softball season.

A first team Class A all-state selection as a 10th-grader, Elliott was anxious to get back on the diamond to try and best last year’s 18-7 record that featured a 0.77 earned run average along with 265 strikeouts.

“We had a pretty decent team last year, but this year I think we would’ve done really good if we have an actual season,” she said. “We are more prepared this year.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are no practices allowed and people aren’t supposed to be in groups because of social-distancing.

Learning of that news after having 11 official practices and nearing the start of the season is something Elliott isn’t going to forget anytime soon.

“Well, when we got the news (head coach Dave) Mossor had this long talk with us over lunch,” Elliott explained. “All the seniors were really upset over it, which I understand, because it’s their last year.

“They couldn’t really help it and so watching them break down and be upset over it really made me feel bad for it.”

Along with not being able to continue as a student-athlete, Elliott also had to get adjusted to a different version of high school learning.

“We’re doing online stuff with live grades and Microsoft,” she said. “There’s a whole bunch of different programs we are using

“It’s different, but it’s not bad. It’s just mostly because we don’t have the teachers there to help us.”

Able to throw in the lower 60s with her fastball, Elliott also uses a riseball, the change, a curveball and a dropball.

“She’s a hitter and I’ll tell you something, the only thing she doesn’t have is speed,” admitted coach Mossor. “I watched her throw and I was like oh my gosh.

“Kenna (Delancey) could run like a deer. Chloe can throw it almost as hard and she can hit too. There’s not many animals like old Kenna.”

One advantage Elliott does have is with her father Budge, who opened the Hilltop Sports Academy late last year.

Budge leased the gym at the old Ellenboro Elementary School from the town and sometimes the two of them will go down and work on her game.

“She’s been playing travel ball since she was 11 and Dave would come to her games in the summer to watch,” noted Budge. “He’s a big fan of Chloe.”

Trying to stay sharp inside the circle just in case there’s any semblance of a season forthcoming this spring, Elliott said she’s just taking things one day at a time.

Coach Mossor used his flex days prior to the start of the season and Elliott ended up with a sprained ankle.

“On the third day of flex,” she said of the incident. “It feels pretty all right now. It still hurts a little bit, but it’s fine.”

As far as getting used to her new role as a student-athlete goes Elliott added “I’m back in rhythm (pitching). It’s just different not having school. Hopefully, we can at least play a few games.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

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