Parkersburg South freshman pitcher Anniston Shelton threw a one-hitter and struck out 17 during the Patriots’ 5-1 win over Parkersburg in a Class AAAA, Region IV, Section 2 softball game, Friday at Godbey Fields. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG — Freshman pitcher Anniston Shelton treated her introduction into the postseason for high school softball like any other outing.

And the outcome resembled all those past outings as Shelton struck out 17. She came within one out of a no-hitter as Parkersburg South defeated Parkesburg High School 5-1 in the winner’s bracket of the Class AAAA, Region IV, Section 2, Friday afternoon at Godbey Fields.

“Nothing really changes, it’s just a game,” Shelton said. “Obviously, you want to win. That’s been the goal all season. You just have to keep finding a way to survive and win.”

PHS (5-14) drops into the loser’s bracket and meets Capital for a fourth time this year Monday at Worthington Fields. South (17-7) awaits the winner for a date on Tuesday back at Godbey Fields with a chance to secure a sectional title. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m. starts.

“I don’t care what your record is – and PHS showed that,” South coach Tim Burch said. “Parkersburg’s (pitcher) pitched well on the mound. They played well in the outfield, and they did their very best at the plate to try and move runners around and get people on base.

Parkersburg baserunner Faithlyn Butcher, right, dusts herself off after stealing third base during Friday’s Class AAAA, Region IV, Section 2 softball game with Parkersburg South at Godbey Fields. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I told the girls, everything that happened to this point didn’t mean anything. All the wins, the losses, the strikeouts, the home runs – whatever. One girl even said she was super duper nervous.”

If the Big Reds should win a fourth straight time against Capital, essentially the section plays out to a best-of-3 with the Patriots.

“I was proud of our pitcher for staying composed and for going the distance,” PHS coach Erica Cameron said. “South is a very good hitting team and we were right in it the whole game. I was very proud of all the girls for their effort today.

“But we can’t overlook Capital. Our last game against them was closer than the first two because I think our girls were overlooking them. If we come out and play Monday like we did today we will be just fine.”

Friday’s game started with a scoreless tie in the top of the second inning after both sides were set down in order in a first inning played on Thursday before rain suspended play.

Parkersburg South batter Shyanne Hays (15) delivers an RBI single during the Patriots 5-1 win over Parkersburg in a Class AAAA, Region IV, Section 2 softball game game, Friday at Godbey Fields. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

The first two pitches from Shelton were out of the strike zone, but after that point she was spot on – striking out 12 of the next 14 batters she faced.

In a clean third inning, all three batters showed bunt. Big Reds’ Sydney Davis managed to get a piece on her bunt attempt but South catcher Addi Moon sprung out of the crouch position, dove toward the backstop and caught the pop up for the web gem of the game.

“It’s easy when you have a star pitcher like South has – the defense can kind of sit back and watch,” Cameron said. “When we weren’t able to get a bat on the ball, we wanted to make them work for those outs.”

Shelton’s counterpart on the mound, PHS freshman Camella Cooper wasn’t as dominating but quite effective pitching to contact. She only walked three batters for the game to go with two strikeouts.

Cooper’s kryptonite were seven wild pitches – two which played a hand in South’s first run in the bottom of the third inning and five wild pitches in a three-run, sixth inning.

Parkersburg freshman pitcher Camella Cooper gets set to deliver a pitch during a Class AAAA, Region IV, Section 2 softball game with Parkersburg South, Friday at Godbey Fields. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Despite allowing eight hits, Cooper had a defense behind her which played flawless. She was also responsible for ruining Shelton’s no-hit bid. With courtesy runner Faithlyn Butcher standing on third base with two outs in the seventh inning and South leading 5-0, Cooper fisted a pitch the opposite way into right field for the RBI single.

“This was one of our best games this season,” Cameron said. “This is how I want us to be playing this late in the season. This is what I want to see.”

Butcher’s second appearance as a courtesy runner was the result of Gabby Dennis drawing a lead-off walk – the only base on balls issued from Shelton the entire afternoon. Fairly brand new to the game of softball, Butcher stole second and third base to set up the Big Reds’ only run.

Butcher created more havoc earlier in the game when she stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error.

“The kid has some wheels – when we can get her on the basepaths, she can make things happen,” Cameron said. “”She is exciting to watch.”

As for the Patriots, the lower half of the batting order enjoyed much success. Nos. 5-9 in the lineup combined for five hits, five runs and two RBIs.

“I’m glad to see those girls succeed and get a chance to hit the ball,” Shelton said.

Jaiden Vargas’ lead-off single in the third inning eventually broke a scoreless tie when Shelton drove her in with an infield single.

South tacked on another single run in the fourth inning. Kailey Lockhart ripped a fly ball over the right fielder’s head for a lead-off triple. Down to their final out in the inning, Shyanne Hays out of the No. 9 slot poked a single into right field for one of her two RBIs on the day.

After Cooper retired the side in order for the second time in the game in the fifth inning, the South bats went to work in the sixth. Back-to-back singles from Brylee Hatcher and Lockhart followed by a walk to Moon loaded the bases with nobody out.

Vargas followed and hit a hard grounder to Brynn Frye at shortstop, who immediately threw to home plate for the force out.

“If we can keep our walks to a minimum, our defense is there,” coach Cameron said. “The girls love playing South. They seem to step up their game when we play South.”

After a wild pitch advanced the runners one base and extended South’s lead to 3-0, Hays made contact and grounded out to second base to bring home a fourth run. The lineup turned over with Emma Kuhl at the plate, but another wild pitch allowed Vargas to score the Patriots’ fifth run.

“The bottom half of the lineup has been hitting all season long – when we lost to Morgantown last week it was just a different type of game,” Burch said. “They played well today. I knew coming into sectionals that no one is going to lay down for you.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com