Patriots win first Crosstown Showdown of the season against Parkersburg High School
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PARKERSBURG -- All Alison Marcum needed was some positive reinforcement.
The sophomore from Parkersburg South delivered a game-tying, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning then singled home a third run in the sixth inning as the Patriots rallied form a three-run deficit to defeat Parkersburg High, 9-7, Monday afternoon at Godbey Field.
On her previous at bat, Marcum missed out on a golden opportunity when she ended the second inning on a strikeout and left the bases loaded.
"After that strikeout, I saw that way faraway stare from Alison and I stopped her and said, 'Get that stare out of your face because your are a hitter,' -- before she went to the plate (in the fourth inning) I told her she is a hitter," South coach Tim Burch said after his Patriots improved to 5-1. "She had a confidence. I'm know I didn't do it. She is a hitter and she fought back.
"Last year as a freshman she might have folded, but this year she didn't."
That last comment became a common theme for the entire roster after PHS belted three home runs as part of a five-run top of the third inning. Trailing 5-2, the Patriots tacked on one run in the third then batted around in a four-run fourth. Complimenting Marcum's double was Brooklin Whitehead beating out an infield single with two outs, which brought runners home from second and third base.
"Last year our team would have crumbled after those home runs," Burch said.
"This year they said, 'Nope, that's not enough." And they just kept playing. They played defense well. Even when they were down, they kept their heads up."
PHS starting pitcher Kylie Conley appeared to be headed toward a win, but Big Red coach Jason Roberts was frustrated by the lack of help behind in the field which allowed South to extend innings. Conley went the distance, walking four and striking out four.
"We can't catch a ball on the field, can't make the plays on the infield -- we mess up in the outfield and let balls get by," Roberts said after the Big Red slipped to 2-6. "We have kids running into each other on the infield. All these kids know how to play They just freeze on us.
"Kylie pitched a good game, but she had no defense behind her."
Solo home runs from Madison Marks and Makailyn Munday, along with a three-run blast from Conley all in the third inning knocked out South starting pitcher Lexi Dellinger following 2 2/3 innings of work. Coach Burch summoned Taylor Lamp from left field and the senior struck out the first batter she faced and allowed just two runs over the final four innings for the win in relief.
"I told the kids, it was a team effort," Burch said. "We can't lean on Lexi all the time. She is going to have off nights. That's why we have three pitchers who can step in. And Taylor stepped in really well."
South's offense finished with 14 hits and added insurance runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to push the lead to 9-5. While the PHS bats made beyond the outfield fence a dangerous place to watch, South did not go yard once. Marcum nearly did with her double that sent the center fielder crashing into the fence.
"I thought it was really close to being a home run, but it spinned back and stayed in," Marcum said. "I wish it would have gone over. It was close."
PHS put the Patriots on pins and needles in the seventh inning.
The Big Reds loaded the bases with one out on base hits from Lilly Boice and Conley and a walk to Munday. Krista Durkin fell behind in the count a ball and two strikes before working the count and drawing a run-scoring walk. With Kendall Kimes at the plate as the potential go-ahead run, a wild pitch allowed Conley to score. On the same sequence, the catcher's throw back to the plate strayed away from the pitcher covering. Whitehead at shortstop retrieved the loose ball and threw to Kara Snyder at third base, who tagged out Munday straying too far from the bag.
With two outs and a runner now at second base, Kimes still represented the potential game-tying run. She put the ball in the play toward third base, and as the ball hugged the chalk in air territory Snyder made the play with a rifle throw to first base.
"This is a good ball team we just faced," Burch said. "They are young, but they are very good. I was nervous there in the seventh inning, but I just wanted them to get outs."
Officially, PHS made three errors compared to none for South. Highlighting the Patriots' clean game in the field was catcher Alicia Lemus. In the fourth inning and one runner on base, she did a belly-flop just in front of the plate on a batted ball in the air. She managed to keep the ball secure for one out then threw to first base to double off the runner.
A total of four South hitters enjoyed multi-hit games. Whitehead and Siann Daniels each contributed two hits, while Emma Kuhle went 4-for-4 in the No. 9 slot.
"I feel very good about our team this year," Burch said. "We have a nucleus. They are playing for each other and fighting for each other."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com