Golden Bears begin state tournament strong, win Game 1
Oak Glen's Amber Moore attempts to beat out a bunt during Game 1 of Tuesday's Class AA state tournament. -Joe Catullo
Third baseman Olivia Munoz fires a throw to first base. -Joe Catullo
Lizzie Kell stretches out in center field but is unable to complete the catch. It turned out to be Independence's first hit of the game in the sixth. -Joe Catullo
First baseman Alexis Holden doubles up Independence's Sarah Bragg to end the game. -Joe Catullo
Maddie McKay had another strong outing in the circle, tossing a two-hit shutout. -Joe Catullo
Oak Glen's Amber Moore attempts to beat out a bunt during Game 1 of Tuesday's Class AA state tournament. -Joe Catullo
Third baseman Olivia Munoz fires a throw to first base. -Joe Catullo
Lizzie Kell stretches out in center field but is unable to complete the catch. It turned out to be Independence's first hit of the game in the sixth. -Joe Catullo
First baseman Alexis Holden doubles up Independence's Sarah Bragg to end the game. -Joe Catullo
Maddie McKay had another strong outing in the circle, tossing a two-hit shutout. -Joe Catullo
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SOUTH CHARLESTON -- The Oak Glen softball team opened its portion of the Class AA state tournament Tuesday morning playing the way it did all season, which has been very successful.
Maddie McKay tossed a two-hit shutout, the top of the lineup reached base multiple times and drove runs home, and everybody else played solid defense during the Golden Bears' 5-0 victory over Independence.
"They had the investment to play hard. They had a true team investment to back each other up," Oak Glen head coach Sherrie Garner said.
McKay nearly tossed a no-hitter during the win, with the Patriots' unable to get their first hit until the sixth inning. Kaylen Parks ripped a one-out deep shot to center field for a double. Lizzie Kell stretched as far as she could but was unable to keep the ball in her glove.
Independence received a one-out single up the middle from Sarah Bragg in the top of the seventh. The next batter lined out to Olivia Munoz at third base, who then threw it to Alexis Holden at first to complete the double play and the game.
McKay also walked one, hit a batter, another reached on an error and struck out nine.
"She moves the ball well. She really put it around the plate," Garner said. "We caught them a little off guard, a little off balanced. She had all of her tricks in line."
Following two scoreless frames, the Bears (29-1) recorded a run in the top of the third. Sydney Brown rocketed a 3-2 pitch for a leadoff triple and scored on Kell's bunt.
Oak Glen tacked on two more in the fifth. Brown drew a one-walk, McKay did the same with two away and Sarah Brown delivered with a two-run triple.
The Bears put the game away with two more runs in the seventh. Sydney Brown walked again with one out, Kell singled, McKay stroked a run-scoring double and Sarah Brown bunted home another.
Overall, Oak Glen tallied six hits (two triples and one double) and drew five walks. Makayla Zoellers had a pair of singles. Sydney Brown reached base in her four at-bats with a single and three free passes. McKay drew a pair of walks to go with her two-bagger.
"Our girls saw a lot of pitches throughout the year, so I had to encourage them to be patient and wait for their pitches," Garner said. "You're going to come back around and get more chances. That's just the name of the game. They were patient and put some balls into play. One run was not enough, so it was good for them to come back out and get a few more.
"(Sydney Brown) is fantastic. She plays a lot of ball all year round. She's a leader, absolutely, and is a big sophomore bat. Her sister did the same thing and came up big with that triple and a few runs.”
The Bears will challenge the winner of Sissonville-Herbert Hoover later this evening. The winner of that contest automatically qualifies for the state championship Wednesday, while the loser will play at 9:45 a.m.
LATE START
The ballgame, originally scheduled to start at 9:45 a.m., did not begin until 10:45 a.m. due to heavy rain earlier in the morning.
Oak Glen 5, Independence 0
Oak Glen 0-0-1 0-2-0 2 -- 5 6 1
Independence 0-0-0 0-0-0 0 -- 0 2 0
OAK GLEN (29-1): McKay (WP, CG, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 9K) and Sa. Brown. Sy. Brown T; Kell S, RBI; McKay D, RBI; Sa. Brown T, 3RBIs; Zoellers 2S.
INDEPENDENCE (22-15): Buckland (LP, CG, 5R, 6H, 5BB, 4K) and Parks. Parks D; Bragg S.