Fairlea – Wednesday night was not do-or-die when Beckley traveled to Greenbrier East for a Class AAA Region 3, Section 2 winner’s bracket tussle.
A win however, would send one team to the sectional championship game and put them in the driver’s seat for the overall title.
On a cold, windy and blustery night, the Spartan bats did all of the talking in a 5-1 win over the Flying Eagles.
“We wanted to play today and were hoping the weather would cooperate. It was a little cold, but it did cooperate for the most part,” Greenbrier East head coach Aaron Ambler said. “We were excited to get the win.”
Beckley struck first to grab the early momentum.
Jazzy Daubert reached on a bunt single before Natalia Meade drew a walk. After both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Aubrey Smallwood blooped a single over first base to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Staring at the possibility of a big inning, it was the Greenbrier East defense that rose to the occasion.
A solid ground ball to Lily Carola at first base led to an unassisted putout and held the runner at third base.
Then two foul ball outs stopped the Beckley momentum in its tracks.
Catcher Olivia Plybon snagged the first one near the fence behind home plate before Carola made a nice running grab for the third out.
Defense appeared to spark the offense.
Over the next two innings it was Carola and Plybon that did the damage at the plate to give East starter Josi Ervin all the runs she needed on the night.
Lindsey Black started things with a one-out triple for the Spartans in the bottom of the first inning and scored two batters when Carola ripped a double to the fence.
Leading off the second inning for the home team, Plybon sent one over the left field fence for a 2-1 lead.
“Scoring in the first inning got the momentum back for us and didn’t let them carry the momentum for two or three innings,” Ambler said. “Then we got one in the second before we added more in the third. With that wind blowing, Olivia got it right off the barrel and it was gone.”
Although she got off to a slightly rough start, Ervin was solid the rest of the way. After the first three batters, the senior hurler retired 13 of the next 14 batters.
“I was a little anxious in the first inning. In postseason play you get a little anxious, especially when it is the game putting you into the sectional championship,” Ervin said. “After the first inning I settled in a little bit. I felt better and I was ready to go.”
The Spartans expanded the lead to four runs in the third inning on Carola’s second RBI of the night and by pushing two runs across on wild pitches later in the frame.
Beckley had a chance to make some noise in the fifth inning after a Daubert singled with two outs and Meade worked a walk behind her. When Smallwood was hit by a pitch, the Flying Eagles had the bases loaded and was one swing away from a tie game.
The chance to get back in the game slipped away, however on another pop foul gathered in by Carola in foul ground.
“Tonight was not the best pitching night, obviously, but our defense really showed up along with our bats, Ervin said. “It was not the best hitting game for me either, but we had eight others who were hitting the ball. We just have to come back Friday stronger and ready to go.
The Flying Eagles never really threatened over the final two frames recording just one hit.
Four strike outs from Josi Ervin, a fly ball out at second base and a nice leaping grab by right fielder Hailey Ervin ended the game and secured the win for the Spartans.
Beckley will now travel to Princeton Thursday for an elimination game with the winner advancing to play Greenbrier East Friday.
The Thursday winner will have to beat the Spartans twice for the sectional crown. One win for East will send them back to the Region 3 championship series starting May 15.
