Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
LOGAN A stunning five-run sixth inning by its opponent set the scene for what may be the biggest win of the season for a young but talented and determined Logan softball team.
Two weeks ago, Logan and Winfield met at Winfield High School in a battle of two of the top-rated Class AA softball teams in the West Virginia MetroNews Softball Coaches Poll, in which the Lady Generals won 6-3 in nine innings.
Tuesday night, the same two schools met at Bea Orr Field, and the rematch lived up to its billing as Ashlin Brumfield singled to right field scoring Addison Richardson with the winning run to give second-ranked Logan an 8-7 come-from-behind win over top-ranked Winfield.
It was bittersweet revenge for Logan, who lost in extras at Winfield on a walk off three-run home run of the bat of Maci Boggess in the ninth inning, and it appeared the Lady Generals were on their way to handing the Lady Wildcats another heartbreaking defeat.
Logan led 6-2 heading to the top of the sixth before Winfield plated five runs to take a 7-6 lead. That was score as the two teams headed to the bottom of the seventh inning.
Myleigh Adkins quickly erased the deficit with a solo home run leading off the seventh to tie the game at 7. Harlee Quick followed Adkins home run with a double and was lifted for a courtesy runner, Richardson. Winfield intentionally walked Laci Curry setting the stage for Brumfield.
Brumfield, who was hitless in her three previous plate appearances, singled to right field on the first pitch she saw from Kristen Hensley allowing Richardson to race home from second base with the winning run.
Quick was the winning pitcher for Logan after allowing seven runs – five earned – on 10 hits while striking out five and walking four in seven innings. Quick had two hits at the plate including a double.
Adkins led the way at the plate for the Lady Wildcats, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, two runs and two RBIs. Adkins had a two-run home run in the bottom of the third that broke a 1-1 tie and jumpstarted a four-run third inning for Logan.
Curry and Taylor Noe each had a home run as the Lady Wildcats hit four longballs raising their season total to 34 on the year.
Isabella Propst was 2-for-3 with two doubles and RBIs and Taylor Noe went 2-for-4 with a double, home runs, two runs and one RBI for the Lady Wildcats.
Kristen Hensley took the loss for Winfield after allowing five runs on six hits in three innings.
Chloe Kimble had two hits including a double and Rylee McClellan had two singles for Winfield at the plate. Alex Hurley had a triple and one RBI.
Addison Brumfield and Emilee Mullins each had a hit for Logan.
The win improved Logan’s record to 21-7 while Winfield fell to 24-4.
The Lady Generals and Lady Wildcats could possibly meet three more times if both schools win their respective sectionals. Winfield would have to win the Class AA Region 4 Section 1 tournament and Logan would have to win the Class AA Region 4 Section 2 tournament.
If that were to happen, the two schools would meet in the best of three Class A Region 4 championship.
Man 1, Wyoming East 0
Morgan Cooper tossed a one-hitter and didn’t allow a run as Class A No. 9 Man picked up a 1-0 road victory at Wyoming East Tuesday evening.
Cooper struck out 13 and saw her scoreless innings streak reach 42 innings as Man won its seventh consecutive game.
Cooper struck out eight of the first nine batters she faced in the Wyoming East lineup before allowing a leadoff single to Emma Simpson to start the Lady Warriors fourth inning.
Following a fly out, Simpson stole second and third but was left stranded as Cooper retired the side with a pop out and her ninth strike out to end the inning.
The Lady Warriors never had another base runner over the final three innings as Cooper retired the final nine batters to pick up her 10th victory of the season.
Wyoming East starter Paytin Brehm was solid in the circle for the Lady Warriors, but suffered the hard luck loss after allowing one run on three hits while striking out 11 and walking two in seven innings.
Cooper had two hits for Man at the plate including a double. Peyton Lusk had one hit, but it was the most important hit of the game as she drove in a run with her fourth inning single.
Scoreless through three innings, Cooper led off with a bunt single and was sacrificed to second when Mattie Carroll laid down a bunt. Cooper then moved up to third on Jacklynn Barnett’s groundout and with two outs Lusk blooped a single to right field scoring Cooper with the game’s lone run.
The win improved Man to 11-3 on the season while Wyoming East 14-10 with the loss.