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WEIRTON -- Kenna Calahan carried the big stick, while Maddie McKay controlled the game from inside the circle.
Calahan supplied a good bit of the offense as she collected three hits and five RBIs on the day, while McKay, who earned the win, struck out 11 leading the Oak Glen softball team to a 9-0 victory in six innings against Hancock County rival Weir on a chilly Monday evening on the road to remain undefeated on the season.
The game was scoreless through three innings before the Golden Bears awoke from their slumber and scored nine runs in the final three innings.
"It is the law of averages," Oak Glen (10-0) head coach Sherrie Garner said. "Madison (Angus) did a nice job pitching for them. She had us guessing. She kept us on our toes. Maddie pitched well for us. It was a great performance by both pitchers.
"We were patient, and we were able to come around."
Calahan came up a triple short of the cycle, while McKay limited the Red Riders to a pair of singles. She also walked one batter, while another batter reached on an error.
Calahan launched a solo home run over the fence in center leading off the top of the fourth giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. The senior then singled home a run in the fifth before producing a three-run double in the sixth.
"She brought the big stick, absolutely," Garner said. "She delivered for us. She came through."
The Golden Bears scored nine runs on nine hits.
"It was a good pitching performance by both pitchers," Weir (9-2) head coach John Leary said. "I'm real proud of Madison. She did a great job. They scored nine runs, but at some point in time we have got to hit the ball. Maddie pitched well for them, but at some point we have to slay the dragon.
"We had three kids in the lineup that have never faced her before. They are freshmen, but that is no excuse. We talked all offseason that when it comes down to it, we know we are going to have to beat to advance past the sectionals. This was Round 1. They outplayed us. They whipped our butts. They hit the ball. They were aggressive.
"We did not hit the ball. That's a credit to their pitcher. If you lose and you don't learn something from it, that's a shame, but if you lose and you learn something you can use later on, that's what you want.
"We are going to see them again. Hopefully, we see them in the OVACs, and we are going to see them in sectionals. We are going to see them three or four more times. This was just Round 1. We are going to take this experience and hopefully we can learn something from it for our next game.
"Hats off to their Maddie. She did a great job. Hats off to our Maddie was well. They are a good team. They hit the snot out of the ball. They deserved to win. They were the better team."
Madison Angus took the loss for Weir. She stuck out four and walked three.
Grace Smith tallied a double to help Oak Glen's cause, Emma Renfro and Sydney Brown each ended up with two base hits, while Olivia Munoz singled home a run. Also, Sarah Brown and Lizzie Kell each collected an RBI. Oak Glen's other run scored on a wild pitch.
Mallory Rosnick and Kylie Dean each delivered a single for Weir.
"Both teams came out to play," Garner said. "There was a lot of excitement. There always is when you play a rival. These kids have played since before high school. It was nice seeing everyone together.
"There was a lot of excitement. You expect to have that with these games. I can't complain.
"They are a good ballclub. They had some hits. They made us move to get the ball. Calahan has nice legs. She made that nice catch. If that drops in or gets behind her, they are moving on the bases. Sydney and Lizzie did a good job up the middle. They made some nice outs. Lizzie made a nice play at second. We made some nice plays on defense."
After Calahan's home run gave the visitors a 1-0 lead, Sarah Brown drew a one-out walk, and she came around to score on a two-out single by Munoz giving Oak Glen a 2-0 lead.
The Golden Bears broke the game open with four runs in the fifth to increase their advantage to 6-0.
Calahan brought home a run with a base hit, Sarah Brown and Kell tallied RBI on back-to-back fielder's choices, while the other run scored on a wild pitch.
Calahan's bases-clearing double in the sixth completed the scoring.
"Every year you have a different team," Leary said. "We have three girls who did not play against them last year. Last year, it was more a case of us imploding on ourselves at the end of the year in the sectionals. The last game where they eliminated us was like this one; they blew us out. The other games were back-and-forth.
"I hope it is not a mental thing. We have scored runs against them before. I don't think it is a mental thing. They are a good team. When a team keeps beating you, their confidence is high, while your confidence is low. That is why I said earlier we have to slay the dragon. This was our first of maybe five games against them."
The Red Riders did not commit an error in the game.
"The weather has not been great, but it has been average," Garner said. "We have been able to get out on the field. We made a trip through the state, and that was the best week of weather we have had.
"The girls are performing well. I am real proud of them. They are playing together. Renfro had some slaps. She had some nice hits. Makayla Zoellers hit the one ball well, but they made a nice play on it."
Both teams are scheduled to play at 5:30 p.m. today. Oak Glen is scheduled to play Brooke at home on Senior Night, while Weir will travel across the river to take on Big Red up at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Oak Glen 9, Weir 0
Oak Glen 0-0-0 2-4-3 – 9 9 1
Weir 0-0-0 0-0-0 – 0 2 0
OAK GLEN (10-0): McKay WP (11K, 1BB) and Sa. Brown. Sy. Brown 2S; Callahan S, D, HR, 5RBI; Sa. Brown RBI; Kell RBI; Munoz S, RBI; Renfroe 2S; Smith D.
WEIR (9-2): Angus LP (4K, 3BB) and Aperfine. Rosnick S; Dean S.