By Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
MOOREFIELD – The Tucker County Softball team opened Sectional play on Tuesday May 3rd at Moorefield. The Lady Mt. Lions came out focused and hit the ball well to secure a big 7-2 first round Sectional win. Ava Shaffer pitched a complete game for Tucker County as she allowed 7 hits and struck out 5 batters in the victory. The Lady Mt. Lions racked up 10 hits in the contest. Autumn Russell led the way at the plate for Tucker County as she collected 3 hits, while Ava Shaffer Kirsten Hicks and Paige Shaffer had 2 hits each. Ava Shaffer had a solo home run in the 2nd inning for 1 of her hits in the game. Cheyenne Gooden also added 1 hit for the Lady Mt. Lions in the road Sectional win.
PETERSBURG – The Lady Mt. Lions traveled to top ranked Petersburg on Thursday May 5th for a matchup with the #1 seed in the Section. The winner would secure their spot in the Sectional Championship. The game was a great battle as Petersburg picked up the win on a walk-off 6-5.
The winning run for the Lady Vikings came on an error on a fly ball that allowed a base runner to score in the bottom of the 7th inning to end the game with the final score of 6-5. The Lady Mt. Lions looked to be in control as they scored 3 runs in the 5th inning on a Kristen Hicks 2 RBI single to give Tucker County the 5-3 lead. The Lady Vikings responded in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 5-5. Ava Shaffer took the loss for Tucker County on the mound as she gave up 6 hits while striking out 4 batters. Chayenne Gooden and Kristen Hicks led the Lady Mt. Lions with 2 hits each. Rachel Felton, Ava Shaffer, Autumn Russell and Brianna Gooden added 1 hit each for Tucker County in the loss.
Tucker County(11-14) was scheduled to host Pendleton County on Monday May 9th with the winner to advance to the Sectional Championship against Petersburg. The loser will be eliminated and the winner will need to defeat Petersburg 2 times to win the Sectional title. For more information visit TuckerCountySports.Com.