BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
MAN, W.Va. — It was a big moment for Coach Rocky Hall and the Tug Valley Lady Panthers on Tuesday, April 15.
Hall picked up his 100th career win as the No. 7-ranked Tug Valley mercy-ruled the Man Lady Hillbillies 16-0 on the road. The Lady Panthers improved to 8-5 and made it a season series sweep over the Lady Billies.
Hall is in his sixth season as head softball coach at TVHS.
The Lady Panthers jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. They added three more runs in the second, two in the third, four in the fourth frame and two more in the fifth inning.
Emma Lackey and Katie Hall led the hitting with three hits apiece, as both belted doubles. Lackey had four RBIs in the game. Bailee Hall smacked a home run.
Bryleigh Fletcher and Kenadi Casey also had hits for TVHS.
Bailee Hall was also the winning pitcher and Lackey came on in relief. Both had three strikeouts in the circle. Their efforts were a combined no-hitter against Man.
Taylor Lester took the pitching loss for the Lady Billies.
Tug Valley 3, Westside 2
CLEAR FORK, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers defeated Class AA Westside 3-2 in softball action on the road in Wyoming County, Wednesday, April 16.
Freshman Emma Lackey pitched a complete game for the Lady Panthers striking out 15 Westside batters. She only gave up one earned run and three hits and did not issue any walks.
Westside took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Tug Valley tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth frame. The Lady Panthers went ahead 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning and Lackey held the home team scoreless to pull out the victory.
Lackey and Zoey Hensley had the only hits for TVHS. Paisley Bolyard, Katie Hall and Lily Mounts each scored a run for Tug Valley. Mounts scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error to third base by the Westside catcher.
P. Shannon took the loss in the circle for Westside. She had 13 Ks and issued three walks.
Tug Valley 8, Mingo Central 7
RED JACKET, W.Va. — The Lady Panthers of Tug Valley held on to defeat county rival Mingo Central, 8-7, Thursday, April 17.
Tug Valley had an 8-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. The Lady Miners scored three runs to make it close, but TVHS held on to win the game.
Bailee Hall was the winning pitcher in the circle for the Lady Panthers with Emma Lackey getting the save. Hall had 11 strikeouts, while Lackey had 2 Ks in one inning. Hall only surrendered three hits and five runs (two earned) over six innings, walking none.
Both TV pitchers belted home runs, while Katie Hall smacked a triple to lead the offense. B. Hall had two hits and scored three runs, while Lackey had three RBIs. Meghan Osborne and Kenadi Casey also had hits for TVHS.
Ciara Brown was the losing pitcher for MCHS. Aubrey Plummer went 1-for-4 at the plate and led Mingo with two runs batted in.
Tug Valley improved to 10-5 on the season with the win.
Pikeville 7, Tug Valley 2
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — It was the battle of the Panthers as Pikeville defeated Tug Valley 7-2 in softball action at the TVHS field in Naugatuck, Monday, April 14.
Bailee Hall had a double for Tug Valley and scored a run, while Emma Lackey banged out two hits and scored the other run for Coach Rocky Hall’s squad.
Tug Valley came into the game with a 7-3 record and ranked No. 7 in Class A in West Virginia.
Lackey took the loss in the circle for Tug Valley. Bailee Hall also saw action in relief.
TVHS took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second but fell behind 3-1 in the third. The home team added a run in the bottom of the third frame, but Pikeville took control with a run in the sixth and three more in the top of the final inning to pull away. C. Salyers and T. Ritz both had two hits to lead Pikeville. R. Jones belted a home run. L. Akers was the winning pitcher.
