Parkersburg South's Jaiden Vargas (16) swings on a pitch against Cabell Midland during a high school softball regional final game on Tuesday in Ona. (Photo by Ryan Fischer/Herald-Dispatch)

ONA — No one knew it at the time, but everyone at the Class AAAA Region IV high school softball finals could’ve gone home after one batter hit in the bottom of the first inning.

Nicole Harris hit a home run off the top of the centerfield fence leading off Cabell Midland’s half of the first. That’s all the Knights (26-3) needed, but they tacked on two more runs in a 3-0 victory over Parkersburg South.

The triumph gave Cabell Midland a two-game sweep of the Patriots and sent the Knights back to the state tournament in search of their seventh championship. The tournament is set for May 28-31 at South Charleston’s Little Creek Park.

Harris said she was seeking to do anything positive against South pitcher Annie Shelton, a heralded freshman.

“(Monday) I went 0 for 3 against her, so I guess I had something to prove,” Harris said with a laugh. “I guess that proves it. She helped me out a little bit. She threw it right down the middle. If I didn’t hit it, it would be my own fault.”

Parkersburg South's Annie Shelton (0) pitches as Cabell Midland takes on Parkersburg South during a high school softball regional final game on Tuesday in Ona. (Photo by Ryan Fischer/Herald-Dispatch)

Harris complimented the hard-throwing Shelton and said when the youngster makes a rare mistake, hitters must take advantage.

For a while it appeared the rest of the game would be postponed until Wednesday. Light steady rain became a downpour with flashes of lightning that led to a 45-minute delay.

The Knights clung to the 1-0 lead until the fifth inning, when Kalissa Hess led off with a base hit and eventually scored when first baseman Allison Marcum and second baseman Kailey Lockhart collided while trying to catch Becca Conrad’s popup and the ball bounced out of Lockhart’s glove for an error.

Another error led to Cabell Midland’s third run. In the sixth, Ellie McCormill walked, then stole second. The throw from catcher Peyton Mackie hit McCormill and deflected into center field. McCormill scurried to third, then crossed the plate when Maddie McCallister lined a shot that knocked off Shelton’s glove and rolled toward second base.

Drea Watts held the Patriots (18-9) in check, allowing one hit, a second inning-double by Lockhart, striking out 11 and walking one.

Cabell Midland's Drea Watts (24), right, tags out Parkersburg South's Jaiden Vargas (16) at home plate during a high school softball regional final game on Tuesday in Ona. (Photo by Ryan Fischer/Herald-Dispatch)

Knights coach Herman Beckett said Harris’ homer was a confidence boost, especially with Watts in the circle. The junior right-hander has allowed one run in her last four games and has hurled 24 consecutive scoreless innings.

“You take a deep breath because you know with those two pitchers there are going to be very few runs and they’ll be hard to get,” Beckett said.

South coach Tim Burch said he was proud of the Patriots and wished the Knights well.

“We had a great season,” Burch said. “One (goal) was to win this region and go on to the state. We played well. The little mistakes just added up. We can’t fault our kids at all. They fought to the end.”