Parkersburg South freshman pitcher Anniston Shelton struck out 16 and threw a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 win over Wheeling Park, Tuesday at Godbey Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG – Just like they drew it up.

Once again, Parkersburg South relied heavily on pitcher Anniston Shelton. The freshman struck out 16 in a complete-game shutout, but showcased another phase of her game to secure a 1-0 win over Wheeling Park, Tuesday at Godbey Field.

With a Wheeling Park baserunner on third base and two outs, and South protecting a 1-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning, Shelton’s first pitch to pitching counterpart Delaney Randolph got past catcher Payten Mackey.

The heater from Shelton was delivered with such velocity that the ball hit the padded backstop directly back to Mackey, who tossed to Shelton covering home plate. On a bang-bang play, Shelton whipped her glove around and tagged the Wheeling Park baserunner attempting to tie the game.

A brief discussion from the Wheeling Park coaching staff and the umpires did not materialize into anything and secured South’s fourth straight win over an eight-day span.

Parkersburg South softball coach Tim Burch asks for clarification from the home plate umpire during Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Wheeling Park at Godbey Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I just kept my emotions in check – don’t make the play bigger than it is,” Shelton said. “You just rely on your teammates to let you know if the runner is going or not. I saw that she was going, but I focused on getting to the plate, and getting to the ball. It was a good job by Payten getting the ball to me.”

South improved to 11-5 and remained unbeaten against opponents in the Mountain State. Wheeling Park dropped 7-9.

“We work on that play in practice and they did really well,” South coach Tim Burch said. “The ball came off the backstop really good to (Payten), too.”

South’s current streak started with a 6-1 win at Wheeling Park, which gave the hometown Patriots a different look with Randolph on the mound for the second meeting. Randolph kept South hitters off stride – scattering four singles, walking one and pitching to contact with six strikeouts.

The one inning which Randolph ran into trouble resulted in the game’s only run. Scoreless through 5 ½ innings, South leadoff hitter Emma Kuhl reached on a single then advanced to second base when Shelton turned in her second base hit of the evening.

Parkersburg South’s Payten Mackey rips a ground ball back to the Wheeling Park infield during Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Godbey Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

A walk to Kylie Conley loaded the bases with Brooklin Whitehead stepping to the plate and still no one out. Whitehead hit a grounder to third base, but the fielder’s throw to home plate for the force out went high and wide. Wheeling Park catcher Kyla Cunningham was unable to step on the plate before Kuhl arrived.

Damage control allowed Wheeling Park to get out of the inning without another South run. A fielder’s choice at home plate was followed by a strikeout and an infield grounder..

“(Randolph) didn’t throw hard – we have trouble with pitchers who don’t throw hard,” Burch said. “She kept the ball down and we struggled. It’s windy and freezing. I told the kids they played in terrible conditions and persevered. And that was really impressive.”

At game time, the temperature was 50 degrees with heavy cloud cover and winds at 20 miles per hour, including gusts up to 36 miles per hour.

That didn’t alter Shelton’s uniform attire. She pitched in short sleeves – unlike her teammates who wore long sleeves and a majority of the Wheeling Park hitters wearing jackets.

Parkersburg South baserunner Emma Kuhl, left, scores the game’s only run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Wheeling Park catcher Kyla Cunningham attempts to haul in a high throw on a force play at home plate, Tuesday at Godbey Field. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Shelton did not walk a batter. Of the three hits she allowed, two occurred in the first innings. Beginning in the top of the second inning, she struck out the side in three consecutive innings.

“I wasn’t cold – mind over matter,” Shelton laughed. “I was good, I thrived in it. It’s all about mental toughness. We are here to play ball. You are going to have bad conditions, so just stay locked in.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com