VIENNA, W.Va. -Unlike its regular season meetings with St. Marys and Williamstown, Parkersburg Catholic didn't go away quietly.
On the opening night of the Class A, Region 1, Section 3 softball tournament Monday at Jackson Park, PCHS gave Williamstown fits before losing 4-3 - the same Yellowjacket outfit which owned two shutout wins against the Crusaderettes.
The loss sent PCHS into a second game - this time against a St. Marys squad which mercy-ruled the Crusaderettes in three innings twice before. That was not the case last night as PCHS trailed by just one run (3-2) entering the bottom of the fourth inning.
Article Photos
KERRY?PATRICK Special to The Times
Williamstown pitcher Sami Crowe pitched a complete-game victory as the Yellowjackets defeated Parkersburg Catholic 4-3 in a Class A sectional game Monday at Jackson Park.
The St. Marys bats eventually woke up and finished with four triples after posting a 10-2 win in six innings.
The Crusaderettes' season ends at 5-19, while Williamstown (8-18) and St. Marys (22-4) will meet in a doubleheader scheduled for 5 p.m. today again at Jackson Park. Both schools are undefeated in the double-elimination format.
"Parkersburg Catholic gave us both fits tonight," St. Marys coach John Mike Nichols said. "They were playing scrappy and playing smart. They didn't want their season to end. They wanted to keep playing."
Fact Box
Class A, Region 1, Section 3
At Jackson Park, Vienna
Williamstown 4, Parkersburg Catholic 3
PCHS 001 002 0 - 3 6 3
Williamstown (8-18) 301 000 x - 4 6 3
WP: Sami Crowe 7IP 2BB 3SO
LP: Rachel Slone 6IP 2BB 9SO
Leading hitters: PCHS - Liz Ruscitto 1-3, run; Maddie Roedersheimer 2-3, run; Rachel Slone 1-2, 2 RBIs; Hannah Fisher 1-3; Gabi Dye 1-3, run. Williamstown - Ashton Chancellor 1-4; Hannah Walters 1-3, 2 runs; Hillary Dennison 1-3, 2B; Emrie Gray 1-3, run, RBI; Cierra King 2-2, 2B.
St. Marys 10, Parkersburg Catholic 2
PCHS (5-19) 000 200 - 2 3 3
St. Marys (22-4) 111 313 - 10 6 0
WP: Mandy Cokeley 5IP 2BB 7SO
Kendra Becker 1IP 0BB 1SO
LP: Rachel Slone 5.2IP 5BB 2SO
Leading hitters: PCHS - Maddie Roedersheimer 2-3, run, RBI; Rachel Slone 1-3. St. Marys - Morgan Fuenty 1-2, 4 runs, RBI; Abbi Fetty 3-4, 2 3Bs, 5 RBIs; Bethani Chambers 2 RBIs; Jenna Steele 1-3, 3B, run; Kristy Mixer 1-1, run, 3B, RBI.
Next game: Class A sectional at Jackson Park - Williamstown vs. St. Marys (DH), 5 p.m. today
Williamstown 4, Parkersburg Catholic 3
The Yellowjackets appeared to be on cruise control after scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hillary Denison's infield grounder drove in one run, while Emrie Gray singled in another. Gray eventually scored on a wild pitch.
PCHS snapped it scoring drought against the Yellowjackets in the third inning when Gabi Dye singled and circled the bases on two Williamstown errors.
The difference reached three at 4-1 in the bottom half of the inning on a pair of PCHS miscues.
The Crusaderettes put the pressure on with a pair of runs in the sixth behind singles from Liz Ruscitto, Maddie Roedersheimer and Rachel Slone. Williamstown pitcher Sami Crowe was able to leave Slone stranded on third base after recorded two straight outs to end the inning.
Crowe then retired the side in order in the seventh to clinch the victory.
"Sami hangs in there - she counts on our infielders and outfielders to make plays and that's what we've been doing," Williamstown coach Ron Stanley said.
Slone took the loss despite striking out nine Yellowjackets.
St. Marys 10, Parkersburg Catholic 2
Abbi Fetty led the offensive surge for St. Marys after going 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of triples and five RBIs. In her final at-bat, the junior sent a 2-0 offering from Slone to the warning track and drove in courtesy runner Alyssa Fetty and Morgan Fuenty with a triple to put her ballclub in front 9-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
"I popped it way too high (on that last at-bat)," Abbi Fetty said. "I thought (the center fielder) was going to catch it, but it hit the fence luckily."
Cleanup-hitter Bethany Chambers followed and put down a perfect bunt to bring home Abbi Fetty for the final run of the night. Chambers earlier hit a sacrifice fly which gave St. Marys a 3-0 lead through three innings.
"Our team bus didn't arrive until 6 p.m. and out bats didn't arrive until 8 p.m.," Nichols said.
St. Marys starting pitcher Mandy Cokeley worked five innings and struck out seven to earn the victory, while freshman left-hander Kendra Becker allowed one hit and struck out one while blanking PCHS in the sixth inning.
Both of PCHS' runs scored in the third inning. Maddie Roedersheimer singled home Liz Ruscitto then scored on a wild pitch - all with one out.
