Contributed HEADED BACK TO THE STATE TOURNEY - The Oak Glen softball team celebrates after winning its regional bracket on Saturday.

NEW MANCHESTER – The Oak Glen softball team punched it ticket for a trip to South Charleston and the West Virginia State Tournament.

Oak Glen – the No. 2 seed in the regional tournament and the defending state champions in Class AA – rallied from an early deficit and defeated No. 3 seed Doddridge County, 8-5, in the Region 1 Final Saturday morning up at the Suzan L. Smith Field of Dreams.

“It is a sense of accomplishment,” Oak Glen (18-10) head coach Sherrie Garner said asked what winning the regional title means to her team. “The girls are hard workers. The goal was to get back to the state tournament and to compete for a state title. The girls fought through some stuff. They have gotten better. They have improved. They battled for more runs today. We were able to do that and put ourselves in the driver’s seat. The girls did a very good job.”

The Golden Bears are making their second-straight trip to the state tournament, and it is their third trip in the last four years.

“It’s exciting,” Garner said about making it back to the state tournament. “They do a nice job down there. It is exciting. There is a new format this year. We are excited about being part of the change with the growth of softball. We are excited about having the opportunity to compete for a state title.”

The girls from Hancock County faced some adversity throughout the season, but the Golden Bears have been able to overcome en route to having the opportunity to compete for their state title having won the championship last season and back in 1998.

“The girls have come a long way,” Garner said. “They have tried to fight through some tough situations. We started out banged up. This was a very transitional year for the girls. We had a lot of success last season. We won the state title. In the end, we were able to come out on top. We have been dealing with things in the head. We have been dealing with stress. I am very proud of the girls. This means a lot.

“They wanted it today. They showed up ready. We were disappointed with how the OVACs went, but we lost to a very-good team. It was a bummer. The girls were ready to fight. They wanted to it today. They came out and competed.”

With the win, the Golden Bears advanced back to the state tournament. The state tournament is scheduled to be held May 28-31 at Little Creek Park. Oak Glen joins Hancock County rival Weir in the state tournament. Weir – the No. 1 seed in the regional tournament – advanced by defeating Ravenswood, 9-1, in the other Region 1 Final in five innings Thursday at the Roberta “Birdie” DeFrancis Softball Field. The Red Riders made the tournament last season in Class 3A.

“We are very familiar with Weir,” Garner said. “We saw some of the teams down there last year. Weir was in 3A last year, but they saw some of the teams down there last year. John (Leary) does a good job at Weir. His coaching staff does a good job. They pay attention to those things. We are going to go down there ready to go.”

Mattie Carney collected the win inside the circle for Oak Glen. Carney struck out 10 while walking four. Carney recorded her 500th career strikeout during the win.

“Mattie pitched well,” Garner said. “She had 10 strikeouts. She did well. She has 500 strikeouts in her career. Of the 21 outs, 10 were by strikeout. She struck out three girls in the first after they scored a run. She competes. She works hard. We make the plays behind her. She did a fantastic job. She did really well.”

Kamryn Satterfield took the loss for the Bulldogs (20-14). Satterfield finished the game with two strikeouts and one walk in her 5 1/3 innings of work. She was replaced with one out in the bottom of the sixth by Madelyn Barker, who pitched the rest of the way. Baker did not record a strikeout or walk a batter.

“They have some solid girls,” Garner said. “Their pitcher was solid. They brought in another pitcher. She had a good changeup. That was a good move. The girls hit the fast pitches, and then they had to face that type of pitching. The girls said it was a good move.

“They are good all-around. Their catcher is fantastic. She is really good with her snap throws whether to first or third or even to second if you get caught napping. Their third baseman is good. She is their lead off batter. She is a hard out to get. She is the girl who competes on the track team. That is why we had to move the game. I talked to her, and she told me she won all four of her events. She is a fantastic athlete. It’s great she is able to do both.

“They are well coached. They can bunt. Our defense was fantastic in the first game. We were able to get some double plays. They bunted the ball today. Their bunting made us nervous, for sure. They are gritty. We knew that. I have had some family and friends come through there. They gave us a test.”

The victors outhit the visitors, 11-7. After falling behind a run early, the hosts responded and built a three-run lead. The girls in black battled back and pulled to within two runs, however, the girls in white plated three more runs to build a five-run advantage before holding on for the victory.

“The girls hit the ball well,” Garner said. “They ran well. They put the ball in play. They gave us some opportunities to make things happen. They came through for us. We were able to put some runs on the scoreboard. That made us more comfortable, but you are never truly comfortable until the end of the game.

“Doddridge County battled. They are a good group of people. We appreciate them coming up here and competing.”

Danica Holden delivered three hits – two singles and a triple – to go along with two RBI and a run scored to lead the way offensively for the hosts.

“She came through, for sure,” Garner said. “Dani has hit the ball very well. She is focused. She is a great senior leader. This is her third trip to the state tournament.

“Brayley Lash transferred in this year, and we are very happy to have her. She made it to the state tournament last year with Weir. This is her second trip to the state tournament. Macy Hartung and Dani will be making their third trip. Marleah Lough will be graduating this year. She is graduating early. She is a senior in our mind. This will be her second trip.

“Dani came through. She ran the bases well. I did not hesitate to send her to third. She doesn’t stop. Kylie Robinson also ended up on third with a triple. I did not blink.

“I am really proud of all of the girls. We put the ball in play. As a team, we don’t strikeout a lot. We put the ball in play. The girls did a good job of battling. Their pitcher only had two strikeouts total. That is a credit to our girls. They hit the ball. They give us opportunities. We did have an out on that bunt when the ball hit her, but we played some smallball as well. You want to be effective doing that. We had some great hitters top to bottom in our lineup. They put the ball in play.”

The locals collected five extra-base hits en route to the win while the Bulldogs tallied three.

The Green-and-Gold struck first with a run in the top of the first inning.

Brooke DeHaven led off the game by reaching on a single to center before stealing second base to move herself into scoring position. Then after a strikeout, the third baseman scored on a single to right by catcher Isabella Holtz to give Doddridge County an early 1-0 lead. After a strikeout, Holtz stole second while Tessa Mayle walked to put two runners on base, however, Carney recorded a strikeout to strand the two baserunners.

Oak Glen had an opportunity to answer in the home half of the inning, but the Golden Bears were not able to push a run across. Bayley Lash doubled to left with one out. She eventually advanced to third on a passed ball, but she was stranded there thanks to a strikeout by Satterfield.

Both teams were retired in order in the second, and the girls from Doddridge County were able to get anything going in the third, however, the Golden Bears were able to get on the scoreboard with their first run of the ballgame.

Robinson doubled to left to start the third, and she moved up to third on a passed ball before scoring on a single to left by Kynslee Landess to knot the score at 1. Landess advanced to second on an error on the play before going to third on a groundout. Lash then was issued an intentional walk to put two runners on, however, the pair would be stranded thanks to two flyouts to center.

Mayle was issued her second walk in the home half of the fourth for the Bulldogs, but she was stranded at second thanks to a strikeout by Carney.

The winners broke through for three runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead at 4-1.

Holden got the ball rolling with a triple to center to start the inning, and she scored on a double tvanceo center by Hartung to give the Golden Bears the advantage at 2-1. Lough then reached on an error scoring Hartung to make the score, 3-1. Lough made it to second base on the play, but ended up being out trying to make it to third. Then, Robinson recorded her triple, and she scored when Landess reached on an error to make it 4-1. The Bulldogs were able to get out of the inning thanks to a fielder’s choice and a groundout.

Doddridge County countered with a run in the fourth to pull within two. DeHaven doubled with two outs, and she scored on a double by Sattefield to pull her team to within 4-2. Satterfield advanced to third on a passed ball, but she was stranded there thanks to a strikeout.

Oak Glen got its run back in its half of the inning. Carney singled to center to start the inning, advanced to second on a groundout and the pitcher scored on a single to right by Holden to regain a three-run lead for the Golden Bears at 5-2. Lough reached on an error with two outs, however, Oak Glen was not able to add to its lead as a flyout to right ended the inning.

Doddridge County came right back and scored again in the sixth to make it a two-run ballgame once again. Caitlyn Pratt tallied a single to start the inning, and she scored on a double by Mayle to pull the Bulldogs to within two runs at 5-3. Mayle was replaced on the basepaths by pinch runner Rachel Wiseman. Wiseman stole third, but Carney got a flyout to prevent Doddridge County from doing any more damage in the inning.

The Golden Bears broke the game open in their half of the inning.

Mikalyn Balch was hit by a pitch with one out, but a pop-up resulted in the second out. Oak Glen, however, was unfazed as the team went on to put the game away with three runs in the inning. Carney singled, and Balch advanced to third on the throw while Carney moved up to second. Then, catcher Nevaeh Heath contributed a base hit scoring both runners to increase Oak Glen’s advantage out to 7-3. Heath took second on a defensive indifference before being replaced by courtesy runner Lexi Vincent, who scored on a single by Holden to extend Oak Glen’s advantage to 8-3. The Bulldogs got out of the inning on a fielder’s choice.

Doddridge County did not go away quietly as the Bulldogs delivered a pair of runs, but it was not enough to extend the game. DeHaven singled, moved to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on an error to make the score, 8-4. Pratt plated Satterfield, who reached on the fielder’s choice to make it, 8-5. Mayle then drew another walk, however, Carney struck out the next batter to end the threat and the game sending the Golden Bears into celebration mode.

“We only had one error,” Garner said. “Marleah had that one in the seventh. Her hand was banged up. She had to slide on that one play, and her hand was under her. She had an injury, but she battled.

“Softball is a tough game. It is a game not built on success. The game is seven innings. It’s repetition. It’s hard. The girls do a good job of picking each other up.

“We saw Ravenswood and Doddridge County this season. Doddridge County scored a run, but we went on to beat them, 9-1. They didn’t throw their No. 1 pitcher. I am pleased with the girls.”

In preparation of the state tournament, Oak Glen will play University at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the road. The Golden Bears are looking to pick up another game.

“We play on turf, so that is an advantage for us,” Garner said. “We would like to pick up two games. We will have the Memorial Day Holiday, then we will get down there Tuesday, spend the night Tuesday and be ready to go Wednesday.”

Oak Glen received a bye in the first round of the tournament, and the Golden Bears advanced to the regional final by defeating the Bulldogs, 5-2, Tuesday at home.

Oak Glen 8, Doddridge County 5

Doddridge County 100 011 2 – 5 7 4

Oak Glen 001 313 X – 8 11 1

DODDRIDGE COUNTY (20-14): Satterfield LP (5 1/3IP, 2K, 1BB), Barker (2/3IP, 0K, 0BB) and Holtz. DeHaven 2S, D; Satterfield D, RBI; Holtz S, RBI; Pratt S, RBI; Mayle D, RBI.

OAK GLEN (18-10): Carney WP (10K, 4BB) and Heath. Lash D; Carney 2S; Heath S, 2RBI; Holden 2S, T, 2RBI; Hartung D, RBI; Robinson D, T; Landess S, 2RBI.