University falls to Cabell Midland 6-5, faces uphill battle on Saturday
The University infield meets for a huddle in the circle on Friday at the state tournament.
SOUTH CHARLESTON – The University High School softball team will have to rally on Saturday to defend its 2024 state title after falling to Cabell Midland 6-5 in the nightcap on Friday.
Cabell Midland jumped ahead early with three runs in the second inning against UHS. The Knights took advantage of a defensive miscue to score their first run, then added two more on back-to-back singles by Nicole Harris and Becca Conrad.
The Hawks responded in the fourth. Lexi Elza's sacrifice bunt led to a throwing error that brought home the Hawks' first run, followed by a successful bunt from Adalyn Brown that plated Kylin Oliveto, trimming the Knights' lead to 3-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Baylee Smith delivered an RBI double to extend Midland's lead to two runs. But the Hawks answered again in the fifth when Masoner's sacrifice fly scored Kelsey Park, who had opened the inning with a triple.
UHS threatened to tie the game that inning, stranding the potential tying run at third. In the sixth, they came close again, but Midland centerfielder Ellie McCormill made a crucial diving catch to rob Brown of extra bases for the second out. That play proved even more significant when Madison Shaver followed with a single.
But the UHS defense faltered in the sixth, committing two costly errors. One came on an infield single by Ellie McCormill, which was already enough to score a run, but instead allowed an additional run to cross the plate, extending Cabell Midland's lead to 6-3.
Still, the Hawks weren't done. In the top of the seventh, Kelsey Park drew a leadoff walk, and Maddie Campbell followed with a towering home run to left field, cutting the deficit to one and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The Knights' junior pitcher, Audrea Watts, delivered a clutch performance, recording her 13th strikeout with the bases loaded to secure the win. Earlier in the day, Watts had thrown a no-hitter against St. Albans, leading Cabell Midland to a 6-1 victory. With a 2-0 record on the day, the Knights are now one win away from clinching the state championship.
Cabell Midland took an early lead against University, scoring three runs in the second inning. The rally began with an error that allowed the first run to score, followed by singles from Nicole Harris and Becca Conrad to bring in the next two. University responded with a two-run homer from Maddie Campbell and a double by Sophia Lehosit, putting the Hawks within striking distance. However, Watts' final strikeout ended the threat and preserved the Knights' lead.
University will face Jefferson in an elimination game on Saturday morning, with the winner needing to defeat Cabell Midland twice to claim the title. Meaning, UHS will need three victories on Saturday to claim the Class AAAA state championship.
BOX SCORE
Cabell Midland 6, University 5
UHS 000 210 2 – 5 8 2
CMHS 030 102 X – 6 7 1
University (1-1) – Park 3210 Campbell 3112 Lehosit 4020 Masoner 2021 Elza 3000 Cox 3000 Brown 3001 Shaver 2020 Walls 1100 Royce 3000
2B: Park, Lehosit
HR: Campbell
Cabell Midland (2-0) – Harris 4121 Conrad 2211 Smith 3011 McCormick 4010 Watts 3000 Elkins 1000 McCallister 2010 Harless 1000 Norris 1010 Salmons 2100 Hess 2100
2B: Smith
3B: Harris
(W) Watts 7.0ip 8h 5r 3bb 13k
(L) Lehosit 3.0ip 4h 3r 5bb 3k
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University softball bows out of 2025 state tournament with 5-1 defeat to Jefferson
SOUTH CHARLESTON – The University High School softball team saw its 2025 season come to a close in the WVSSAC state softball tournament at Little Creek Park on Saturday morning with a 5-1 defeat to Jefferson in an elimination game to kick off Day 2 of action. The Cougars used a strong outing in the circle from Jersey Rummel and some sound defense behind her to stifle the Hawks' normally potent offense and earn their way into the Class AAAA championship series later this afternoon against Cabell Midland. 'We just didn't get the hits we needed when we needed them,' MHS head coach Mindy Parks said. 'It was a very situational game, and things just didn't go our way. It happens that way sometimes, and we know that.' Eight hits yielded only one run as the Hawks stranded eight runners on base. Three of those hits came in the top of the first inning as it seemed UHS had momentum early, loading the bases with only one out. Lexi Elza hit a bouncer to the pitcher that allowed Maddie Campbell to score the game's opening run, but the Hawks wouldn't cross the plate again in the contest. A four-run third inning gave Jefferson the boost it needed to take control and never look back in a key postseason matchup against University High School. The Cougars strung together five consecutive hits to open the third, starting with a run-scoring double from Brooke Allen. Grace Dodson and Savannah Smith followed with RBI singles, and Caroline Abe capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to center, giving Jefferson a 4–1 lead. From that point on, Rummel settled in, allowing just one hit per inning from the second through the sixth. With a comfortable lead behind her, she pitched confidently, trusting her defense. Jefferson added another run in the sixth when Ainsley Phillips led off with a triple and scored on Madison Clark's double, giving Rummel a four-run cushion to finish the final two frames. The Cougars finished with 13 hits, led by Allen, who went 3-for-4. Rummel, Smith, and Clark each had two hits. For UHS, Sophia Lehosit allowed four runs over two innings, while Maddie Campbell delivered five strong innings in relief, giving up just one run on five hits. University High, last year's Class AAA state champion, ended the season 24-7-1. A tough 6–5 loss to Cabell Midland on Friday night pushed them into the losers' bracket, making their path back to the title an uphill battle. 'We know what it's like to be in the winner's bracket, and we said last night this is going to be hard,' said head coach Parks. 'We didn't get in bed until midnight, and then we're up early, but that's just part of the game. Yesterday was a very long day for everybody.' UHS will say goodbye to a lone senior in Kelsey Park, whose impact will be missed, but will return key players on the team next season as the Hawks aim to return to Little Creek Park to fight for a state championship. 'We'll be back,' Parks said. 'I'm confident in that. These girls will be hungry next season. BOX SCORE Jefferson 5, University 1 UHS 100 000 0 – 1 8 0 JHS 004 001 0 – 5 13 1 University (1-2) – Park 4020 Campbell 4100 Lehosit 3010 Masoner 3010 Elza 3021 Cox 3000 Brown 3010 Shaver 2010 Royce 2000 Jefferson (2-1) – Cowan 4010 Rummel 4120 Munslow 4110 Allen 4131 Dodson 4111 Smith 3021 Abe 2001 Phillips 3110 Clark 3021 3B: Phillips (W) Rummel 7.0ip 9h 1r 1bb 1k (L) Lehosit 2.0ip 8h 4r 1bb 2k
Dominion Post
2 days ago
- Dominion Post
University falls to Cabell Midland 6-5, faces uphill battle on Saturday
The University infield meets for a huddle in the circle on Friday at the state tournament. SOUTH CHARLESTON – The University High School softball team will have to rally on Saturday to defend its 2024 state title after falling to Cabell Midland 6-5 in the nightcap on Friday. Cabell Midland jumped ahead early with three runs in the second inning against UHS. The Knights took advantage of a defensive miscue to score their first run, then added two more on back-to-back singles by Nicole Harris and Becca Conrad. The Hawks responded in the fourth. Lexi Elza's sacrifice bunt led to a throwing error that brought home the Hawks' first run, followed by a successful bunt from Adalyn Brown that plated Kylin Oliveto, trimming the Knights' lead to 3-2. In the bottom of the fourth, Baylee Smith delivered an RBI double to extend Midland's lead to two runs. But the Hawks answered again in the fifth when Masoner's sacrifice fly scored Kelsey Park, who had opened the inning with a triple. UHS threatened to tie the game that inning, stranding the potential tying run at third. In the sixth, they came close again, but Midland centerfielder Ellie McCormill made a crucial diving catch to rob Brown of extra bases for the second out. That play proved even more significant when Madison Shaver followed with a single. But the UHS defense faltered in the sixth, committing two costly errors. One came on an infield single by Ellie McCormill, which was already enough to score a run, but instead allowed an additional run to cross the plate, extending Cabell Midland's lead to 6-3. Still, the Hawks weren't done. In the top of the seventh, Kelsey Park drew a leadoff walk, and Maddie Campbell followed with a towering home run to left field, cutting the deficit to one and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. The Knights' junior pitcher, Audrea Watts, delivered a clutch performance, recording her 13th strikeout with the bases loaded to secure the win. Earlier in the day, Watts had thrown a no-hitter against St. Albans, leading Cabell Midland to a 6-1 victory. With a 2-0 record on the day, the Knights are now one win away from clinching the state championship. Cabell Midland took an early lead against University, scoring three runs in the second inning. The rally began with an error that allowed the first run to score, followed by singles from Nicole Harris and Becca Conrad to bring in the next two. University responded with a two-run homer from Maddie Campbell and a double by Sophia Lehosit, putting the Hawks within striking distance. However, Watts' final strikeout ended the threat and preserved the Knights' lead. University will face Jefferson in an elimination game on Saturday morning, with the winner needing to defeat Cabell Midland twice to claim the title. Meaning, UHS will need three victories on Saturday to claim the Class AAAA state championship. BOX SCORE Cabell Midland 6, University 5 UHS 000 210 2 – 5 8 2 CMHS 030 102 X – 6 7 1 University (1-1) – Park 3210 Campbell 3112 Lehosit 4020 Masoner 2021 Elza 3000 Cox 3000 Brown 3001 Shaver 2020 Walls 1100 Royce 3000 2B: Park, Lehosit HR: Campbell Cabell Midland (2-0) – Harris 4121 Conrad 2211 Smith 3011 McCormick 4010 Watts 3000 Elkins 1000 McCallister 2010 Harless 1000 Norris 1010 Salmons 2100 Hess 2100 2B: Smith 3B: Harris (W) Watts 7.0ip 8h 5r 3bb 13k (L) Lehosit 3.0ip 4h 3r 5bb 3k
Dominion Post
2 days ago
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University softball outlasts weather delay, late Jefferson surge for victory in opening game of state tournament
SOUTH CHARLESTON – The University High School softball team got its weekend off to a strong start on Friday at Little Creek Park with an 11-8 victory over Jefferson in the opening game of the Class AAAA state tournament. Jefferson scored five of the final six runs in the game, but the Hawks built a lead that they saw through to the end. Each team earned nine hits in the contest, but UHS took advantage of the weather conditions in the opening inning for five runs, three of which came on a walk or a wild pitch. The Hawks will play Cabell Midland late Friday for a spot in Saturday's state championship. Cabell Midland defeated St. Albans, 6-1. 'I thought our girls came out ready to play today,' UHS head coach Mindy Parks said. 'I think the early lead stunned them (Jefferson) a little, and we were able to get their pitcher, who is very good. These girls wanted to come out and prove why they're the defending champions.' The Hawks drew five walks in the first inning against Jefferson starter Rebecca Munslow. After the rain subsided, play continued with UHS facing two outs. Kelsey Park loaded the bases with an infield single before Maddie Campbell followed with another infield hit that caused a throwing error and cleared the bases, giving the Hawks eight runs in the first inning. 'The message was to keep fighting even though we had such a bad start,' Jefferson head coach Joe Rummel said. 'It's hard, especially when they knew that storm was coming. You could sit and wait, let it go all the way through, and then start up. They should've postponed it.' The Cougars responded with two runs in the first inning and one in the third, cutting the UHS lead to five. But UHS scored two more in the top of the fourth to stretch the lead back to seven runs as Campbell entered the circle to relieve Hawks' starter Sophia Lehosit. Jefferson found three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but a home run over the left field fence by Bri Royce led off the seventh inning to give UHS its 11th run, giving her team some breathing room as they tried to close the game. A brief weather delay, caused by rain and high winds, disrupted play in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the momentum quickly shifted once the teams returned to the field. The Cougars wasted no time making things interesting as Chloe Cowan ripped a two-run double to the gap in left-center, cutting into the deficit and putting the pressure squarely on UHS. Cowan advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Rummel followed with a walk, bringing the tying run to the plate. But UHS pitcher Campbell rose to the occasion, striking out Munslow to seal the hard-fought win. 'At the end, they wanted to be out there,' said UHS coach Parks. 'They were like, 'Coach, put us back.' They said they were good and they wanted to finish that game. It was all about the confidence.' Lehosit led the way offensively for UHS with three of the team's nine hits, and also struck out six over 3 2/3 innings in the circle. Campbell handled the final 3 1/3 innings, striking out five despite issuing six walks, and ultimately closed the door on the late comeback attempt. University 11, Jefferson 8 UHS 800 200 1 – 11 9 1 JHS 201 003 2 – 8 9 3 University (1-0) – Park 5120 Campbell 4111 Lehosit 5031 Masoner 3000 Elza 3200 Cox 3112 Brown 3111 Shaver 3001 Royce 3211. 2B: Lehosit. HR: Royce Jefferson (0-1) – Cowan 4332 Rummel 3112 Munslow 4022 Allen 3011 Dodson 3000 Smith 3101 Abe 2210 Phillips 4110 Hozhabri 1000 Ruffner 3000. 2B: Cowan (W) Lehosit 3.2ip 4h 3r 3bb 6k. (L) Rummel 3.1ip 4h 1r 0bb 1k
