Hoover’s blast sets tone, Weir tops Edison in OVAC semi
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WHEELING -- Rayna Hoover set the tone early.
With one swing, the Red Riders No. 2 hitter put top-seeded Edison on notice that Tuesday's OVAC Class 5A semifinal would not be a repeat of the two team's April 13 meeting.
Hoover crushed a 2-1 offering deep over the fence in left field, bringing both herself and Eliza Utt home for a 2-0 lead in the first.
That early shock and a strong showing from Utt and the Red Riders defense allowed No. 4 seeded Weir to earn a 6-1 victory at the I-470 Complex in Wheeling.
The result will see Weir take on Indian Creek on Saturday for the OVAC Class 4A finale.
Creek previously beat Weir on two separate occasions earlier this season, 8-2 at Wintersville and 3-2 across the river in Weirton.
Weir's win gives the Riders a 2-1 season edge against Edison. Head coach John Leary's team won the early-season battle, 3-2, back on March 25. Nearly two weeks ago, the Wildcats erupted in a 12-2 victory in Richmond.
There's be no such luck today for the top seed.
Utt displayed a solid presence in the circle for Weir, as the fiery lefty kept Edison's dangerous lineup at bay, allowing only four hits and one unearned run through seven innings.
She struck out six batters against just one walk,
Utt also helped Leary get a little coaching decision redemption from a loss to Big Red the week prior.
In that game, the Riders' boss opted to intentionally walk two Big Red hitters to load the bases and allow for a force at any bag. It backfired in a tough loss. Leary admitted his staff wasn't happy with that decision.
In the bottom of the sixth, Rebecka Evans reached first on an error with one out and advanced to second on a single from Ali Shrieve.
After Utt induced a ground out from Pressley Meadows, cleanup hitter Abi Boka stepped to the plate with two down. Leary signaled to intentionally walk Boka, setting up the force.
This time it paid off. Sophia Henderson popped out to Brooklyn Hawthorne on a 1-1 pitch to end the threat.
Hoover's heroics weren't the only solid hitting coming from the designated visitors.
Centerfielder Brayley Lash drove in two runs with a double while catcher Loganne Barton finished with two base hits and an RBI. Like Barton, Utt finished with two singles, aiding her own cause with a run-scoring line drive in the fourth.
Edison managed just the four hits off Ut, with two coming off the batt of Shrieve, who banged out four singles.
Shrieve came on to pitch in the fifth inning, relieving Meadows, the starter. Meadows struck out five with three walks, allowing six runs on five hits while Shrieve struck out four batters with nary a walk.
Weir will be looking for its second OVAC softball championship as it last claimed the crown back in 1996. Indian Creek, meanwhile, has two titles in 1997 and 98, but neither score owns a tournament championship.
Before Saturday's championship finale, the Riders play host to the John Marshall Monarchs on Thursday.
Edison, meanwhile, will look to regroup at home today against Cambridge.
OVAC Class 4A Semifinal
Weir 6, Edison 1
Weir 200 400 0 - 6 6 2
Edison 010 000 0 - 1 4 2
W - Utt wp (6SO, 1W) and Barton. Utt 2S, rbi; Hoover HR, 2rbi; Lash D, 2rbi; Barton 2S, rbi.
E - Meadows lp (5SO, 3W), Shrieve (5) (4SO, 0W) and Evans. Shrieve 2S; Boka S; Pinkerton S.