BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — It was a winner-take-all game Saturday afternoon as Tug Valley entertained Wahama in Game 3 of the Class A, Region 4 co-championship game. The prize was a trip to the state tournament in South Charleston, but the Lady Panthers ended up with a heartbreaking 7-1 loss.
Tug Valley came into the tourney ranked No. 3 in Class A, while Wahama was ranked No. 4.
The 2 p.m. start was delayed because of an afternoon shower.
The Lady Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Bailee Hall scored on a fielder’s choice. Hall had reached base after being hit by a pitch, then advanced to third base on a hit by Paisley Bolyard.
The game remained close as the Lady Panthers maintained their early 1-0 lead.
Tug Valley pitcher Emma Lackey worked out of a jam in the top of the fourth inning. With one out and runners on second and third, she snagged a line drive hit right back at her and then fielded a soft grounder and threw to first base for the third out.
The Lady Panthers got a pair of runners on in the fourth, but were unable to get them across the plate as Wahama’s Gracie Banks pitched out of a minor jam.
The White Falcons tied the game in the fifth frame as Audrey Reynolds grounded a single up the middle and Mary Brinker scored. They then took the lead as Fiona VanMetra beat out an infield single and Reynolds scored the go-ahead run to make it 2-1. Eve Smith followed with another single for Wahama. Raylee Zirkle was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Banks grounded out as Gracie Hynds fielded a grounder at second base to leave the bases loaded.
The visitor led 2-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Izzy Nance slapped a single down the first baseline to give the White Falcons a base runner to start a rally. Tug Valley head coach Rocky Hall then brought in Bailee Hall in relief of Lackey.
Nance stole second to get into scoring position with no outs. Reynolds then smoked one off the center-field fence for a double to give Wahama an insurance run at 3-1. VanMetra lined a single to center to bring home Reynolds to make it 4-1.
Lackey came back to the circle and Eve Smith smacked a double to bring in another run to give the White Falcons a 5-1 lead. Banks popped a single to center to load the bases with no outs.
Tug then got a much-needed double play, but with two outs Flowers lined a single to right to bring home two more runs to make it 7-1.
The dam seemed to break for Tug Valley at that point.
Banks got the final three outs for Wahama and it was celebration time for her and her teammates. They will make another trip to the state tournament.
Wahama fought back from the loser’s bracket and a loss to Tug Valley earlier in the regionals.
Banks got the win in the circle with seven strikeouts, four walks and one run. She had some excellent defense behind her.
Paisley Bolyard, Katie Hall and Caylee Steele each had a hit for the Lady Panthers. Bailee Hall scored the lone Tug Valley run.
Wahama finished with 12 hits on the afternoon, many late in the game. Reynolds and VanMatre were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected three hits for the White Falcons while hitting back-to-back in the lineup.
Lackey, just a sophomore, was the losing pitcher for the Lady Panthers. She finished with six strikeouts and just one walk.
Bailee Hall, the lone Tug Valley senior, played her last game in a Lady Panther uniform. She will play at West Virginia State University next spring.