Members of the Herbert Hoover High School softball team celebrate their second-straight Class AA state championship Thursday in Vienna after knocking off Chapmanville High by an 11-1 score. Still, Hoover has a ways to go to catch Hurricane High School, where the softball team won its fourth-straight Class AAA title by shutting out John Marshall High, 8-0. CRAIG HUDSON | Gazette-Mail | Buy Now
The Herbert Hoover softball team celebrates after winning its second consecutive state championship. (WCHS/WVAH)
By: Sean Delancey | Posted: May 24, 2018 | Source: WCHSTV
ELKVIEW, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — The Herbert Hoover girl’s softball team returned to Elkview victorious after capping off their undefeated season with a state championship.
It was their second one in two years.
Yes, hugs means another state championship
Hoover goes back-to-back in Class AA with a win over Chapmanville #wvprepsb pic.twitter.com/CShDRZyqqO
— CJ Harvey (@CJHarveyWCHS) May 24, 2018
“We worked pretty hard,” senior shortstop Mallori Chapman said. “You know, both years, to be able to make it here and do this again. It’s pretty crazy.”
The team loaded onto trailers on the outskirts of town for a welcome home parade.
The community rallied around their team because of the adversity they’ve overcome.
Two years ago, they lost everything to the 1,000 year flood that ravaged portions of West Virginia killing 23 people.
“We lost everything we had,” Chapman said. “To be able to do this for our community, show them we’re still here, was pretty great.”
Huskies Head Coach Missy Smith said the girls earned this victory and their welcome home because they never gave up.
“I’m blessed to be a part of them,” Smith said.
Like a professional sports team, police and fire crews led the team into Elkview for a victory lap around town because there, they’re heroes too.
Even though they endured a dark past, Smith said they’re headed for a bright future.
“I expect them to come in day one in 2019 ready to go,” she said.
Herbert Hoover’s Kirsten Belcher (13) slides in safely as Chapmanville third baseman Jenna Barker stumbles backward after a collision at the bag. Craig Hudson | Gazette-Mail
By: Ryan Pritt, Prep Sports Reporter | Posted: May 24, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
VIENNA — For weeks, the zero in Herbert Hoover’s loss column gained mounting attention from everyone surrounding the Huskies program, but players and coaches were mum on the subject.
After Delani Buckner’s strikeout of Chapmanville’s Kara Browning to end an 11-1 five-inning conquest of the Tigers in the Class AA prep softball state title game on Thursday afternoon, the tears and the words came pouring out.
“I can talk about it now,” Huskies coach Missy Smith said. “The thing about undefeated seasons, you really can’t celebrate them ‘til they’re over. I spent the whole year waiting for the ball to drop and Cinderella to wake up or whatever you want to call it, and the girls just didn’t let it happen. They came out focused every game and there were different games and different situations — it didn’t matter. They got it done every day.”
And they certainly did on Thursday as the Huskies roared back from an early 1-0 deficit to put an emphatic punctuation mark on a 33-0 season and a second straight state title.
Both teams had to endure a crazy Wednesday schedule that saw the teams finish a winners-bracket game past midnight into the wee hours of Thursday morning, with Hoover eventually prevailing 1-0.
That forced Chapmanville to come back to Jackson Memorial Park for an early-morning elimination game against Petersburg, one in which the Tigers (22-5) prevailed for an 11-1 win.
But between an extremely long day on Wednesday and the early tussle with the Vikings on Thursday, Chapmanville looked gassed, and played like it after staking claim to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Hoover answered with three runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by an RBI double by Presley McGee, and the Huskies never looked back.
“If we don’t answer there, it’s a totally different game,” Smith said. “If we don’t answer and score it could’ve been a 1-0 game again.”
Instead, the Huskies chased Chapmanville ace Kenzie McCann in the second inning, plating six runs in the frame, and Buckner did what she did nearly the whole tournament — hang zeroes. In 19 innings in the state tournament, the sophomore hurler gave up just two runs, struck out 29 and walked one. In two of those games, including Thursday afternoon’s finale, Buckner said she didn’t have her best stuff.
“My ball wasn’t spinning as much as I’d like it to,” Buckner said. “But can you really complain about having the best defense ever having your back and the best offense pounding the guts out of the ball?”
Buckner was a big part of the offense, lacing a pair of RBI singles in three at-bats. McGee was 3 for 3 with two RBIs as well.
The two sophomores dominated things in the circle all season, and though McGee wasn’t used as a pitcher in three games in Vienna, her bat was an integral part of the Huskies’ run.
“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be on such a great team,” McGee said.
The Huskies have emerged as the new team to beat in Class AA, and this season nobody got the job done, not even once. Hoover won its first state title in 2014, but will now return six starters next year, including its top two pitchers.
“I thought we had the chance to do this when we were fortunate enough to win it last year,” Smith said. “I’ve been blessed with good pitchers. You always want to go undefeated, but you don’t ever plan to. It’s super special.”
Still, several players toed the company line when talking about an undefeated season after the game. McGee did. So did Buckner … at first.
“We never really talk about it to each other, but it crosses our radar, obviously,” Buckner said. “It’s just awesome we pulled it off. It’s just all our hard work paying off. To be able to say that is very, very special.”
McCann, who helped Chapmanville win a state championship as a sophomore and took the Tigers to back-to-back title-game losses to Hoover the past two seasons, was completely worn out and looked on from the dugout as the final few innings dwindled away. In the top of the second inning, down 3-1, McCann hit a fly ball into left field that was dropped by Hoover’s Ava Young, which would’ve given the Tigers runners on first and second with two outs.
But McCann and the Tigers’ first base coach both claimed an umpire called her out, so by the time the ball came back to the infield, McCann was already back to Chapmanville’s dugout. Hoover threw the ball to first base, where she was ruled out. It was a microcosm of what was a long day and a long tournament for Chapmanville.
“What can you say?” Tigers coach Ronnie Ooten said. “Some of our kids were hurt or tired — they’re all tired, we’re all tired — you’re out here at 1 o’clock in the morning last night and got to come back today and try to play two games, three if we’d beat them. This thing was all out of whack this year.”
Kara Browning doubled for Chapmanville and Jade Freeman finished 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI.
In the aftermath, every member of Hoover’s enormous crowd was invited onto the infield for a group picture. A community ravaged by massive flooding two summers ago was brought together by the Huskies’ magic run to a state championship last year. The success may have continued and even escalated this year, but judging from the turnout over two days in Vienna, the feeling is still pretty magical along the Elk River.
Even Smith, the consummate coach who was awarded a plaque for winning the 2017 state softball coach of the year before the game, allowed her emotions to show through for a moment.
“The biggest compliment my girls pay to me,” Smith started, taking a moment to compose herself, “… is that they trust me and believe in me and when we tell them things they believe. My assistant coach Jamanda [Rollyson] has had them in the cage for five days and working their hitting and their bats were alive in the tournament — I’m just so proud of them for that.”
Reach Ryan Pritt at 304-348-7948, ryan.pritt@wvgazettemail.com or follow him @RPritt on Twitter.
Herbert Hoover pitcher Delani Buckner allowed just one hit against Petersburg, a solo home run by Carly Cooper in the fourth inning of the Huskies’ 5-1 win at the state tournament. Craig Hudson | Gazette-Mail
By: Ryan Pritt, Sports Writer | Posted: May 24, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
VIENNA — At 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Herbert Hoover kicked off the 2018 state softball tournament against Petersburg in a game it would win 5-1.
VIENNA, W.Va. – Herbert Hoover Lady Huskies take game 1 over Petersburg to open the Class AA state tournament with a final score of 5 to 1. The Huskies will face Chapmanville in the next round. Times will be announced soon. Check back for updates.
Herbert Hoover pitcher Delani Buckner. Craig Hudson | Gazette-Mail
By: Ryan Pritt, Sports Reporter | Posted: May 21, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
2018 Charleston Gazette-Mail All-Kanawha Valley Softball Team
Player of the Year: Caiti Mathes, Hurricane
Rookie of the Year: Jillian Holley, St. Albans
Coach of the Year: Greg Garber, Nitro
Pos. Player School Yr. Stats
P Delani Buckner Herbert Hoover So. 18-0, 0.39 ERA, 210 K
P Harlie Vannatter Hurricane So. 18-3, 1.00 ERA, 173 K
P Brianna McCown GW So. 15-3, 1.07 ERA, 153 K
C Jillian Holley St. Albans Fr. .471, 6 HR, 32 RBI, 11 PO
IF Caiti Mathes Hurricane Jr. .493, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 8 2B
IF Jenna Thomas Sissonville Jr. .533, 16 HR, 57 RBI, 16 2B
IF Kirsten Belcher Herbert Hoover Sr. .539, 7 HR, 48 RBI, 9 2B
IF Jayme Bailey Hurricane Sr. .426, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 16 SB
OF Kiersten Landers Hurricane Sr. .469, 37 R, 26 SB
OF Madison Ramirez Riverside Sr. .500, 6 HR, 27 RBI
OF Katy Darnell GW Jr. .372, 3 HR, 4 3B, 10 SB
UTIL Taylor Bonnett Poca Sr. 18-8, 1.85 ERA, 176 K, .402
UTIL Gracie Donato Riverside Sr. .515, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 10 2B
P Bella Savilla Nitro Fr. 22-7, 2.47 ERA, 185 K
P Kinsey Hudson St. Albans So. 14-7, 2.95 ERA, 146 K
P Lauren Pauley Riverside Sr. 12-6, 3.29 ERA, 64 K
C Sydney Houck Winfield Sr. .409, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 10 2B
IF Lydia Sweat Nitro So. .480, 35 RBI, 13 2B
IF Rebekah Woody Herbert Hoover Jr. .474, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 11 SB
IF Emma Groe GW Jr. .441, 2 HR, 10 2B, 25 RBI
IF Katlyn Rasnake Buffalo Sr. .484, 42 SB
OF Gracie Payne St. Albans Fr. .389, 7 HR, 36 RBI, 7 2B
OF Megan Seafler Herbert Hoover Jr. .449, 16 SB
OF Jasmine Symns Riverside So. .449, 27 SB
UTIL Presley McGee Herbert Hoover So. 12-0, 0.98 ERA, .440, 23 RBI
UTIL Lindsey Russell Buffalo So. 13-10, 139 K, .412, 5 HR, 5 3B
Eddie Ferrari, ThePictureGuyWV.com
Hurricane advanced through regional play with an overall 22-3 record.
Posted: May 21, 2018 at 4:17 p.m. | Source: WV MetroNews
VIENNA, W.Va. — The daily schedule for this week’s high school softball state tournament from Vienna.
Click here for the brackets from each class.
Tournament play runs Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday, May 24 with a rain-date of Friday, May 25, if necessary.
CLASS AAA (All games on Field 1)
Wednesday (May 23)
Game 1: 9:45 a.m. — John Marshall (28-1) vs. Washington (19-9)
Game 2: 30 minutes after Game 1 — Hurricane (22-3) vs. George Washington (20-5)
Game 3: 4:45 p.m. — Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2
Game 4: 30 minutes after Game 3 — Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Thursday (May 24)
Game 5: 9:45 a.m. – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
Game 6: 2:15 p.m. – Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5
Game 7 (if necessary): 30 minutes after Game 6
CLASS AA (All games on Field 3)
Game 1: 9:30 a.m. — Petersburg (25-3) vs. Herbert Hoover (30-0)
Game 2: 30 minutes after Game 1 — Chapmanville Regional (20-3) vs. Wyoming East (20-4)
Game 3: 4:30 p.m. — Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2
Game 4: 30 minutes after Game 3 — Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Thursday (May 24)
Game 5: 9:30 a.m. – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
Game 6: 2:00 p.m. – Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5
Game 7 (if necessary): 30 minutes after Game 6
CLASS A (All games on Field 2)
Game 1: 10 a.m. — Wheeling Central (18-5) vs. Moorefield (22-8)
Game 2: 30 minutes after Game 1 — Sherman (18-7) vs. Fayetteville (18-7)
Game 3: 5 p.m. — Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2
Game 4: 30 minutes after Game 3 — Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Thursday (May 24)
Game 5: 10 a.m. – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
Game 6: 2:30 p.m. – Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5
Game 7 (if necessary): 30 minutes after Game 6
Garrett Cullen, WVMetroNews.com
Herbert Hoover entered the state tournament with a 30-0 overall record.
Posted: May 21, 2018 at 3:39 p.m. | Source: WV MetroNews
VIENNA, W.Va. — The high school softball state tournament is set for Wednesday and Thursday, May 23-24 (with a rain-date of Friday, May 25 if needed) from Vienna. (more…)
By: Tom Mauldin | Posted: May 15, 2018 | Source: MaxPreps.com
While not every team in this week’s MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 national high school softball rankings has a shot at finishing No. 1, most do.
With one state tournament concluded, three on tap this week and the rest of the country playing at various weekends between now and June 16, a lot can happen. It’s wide open.
It happens every year. A year ago, California’s Norco was 33-0 and held the top spot for many weeks before losing the season finale to Los Alamitos (Calif.) and ending its hopes of a national crown that was awarded to Griffins, who entered the final day of the season ranked No. 2 behind Norco.
Consider the following:
• Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.) concluded its season with its sixth-straight state 5A title and a 34-0 record. Neshoba enters this week ranked No. 4.
• Katy (Texas) vaulted into the conversation as its 28-game win streak moved it from No. 12 a week ago to No. 3 this week.
• East Carter (Grayson, Ky.) has won 29 straight and sits at No. 5. And defending champion Los Alamitos is No. 6 this week.
• Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) ran its win streak to 23 in a row and is ranked No. 7 this week. And there might not be hotter teams either side of the Mississippi River than San Marcos (Calif.) and Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.). Each has fashioned impressive winning streaks and knocked off high-ranking opponents in the process.
Not so fast. … Canyon (New Braunsfels, Texas) has the best view of No. 1 as it sits atop the rankings for a third-straight week. Canyon is pitching strong with a trio of future D1 hurlers leading the way, including MaxPreps National Player of the Year candidate Brooke Vestal (Oklahoma signee).
Canyon still has three weeks of Texas playoffs before calling it a season. Or sooner as upsets are the norm in the Lone Star State postseason.
Also new to the Top 10 this week is Cathedral Catholic (San Diego). Cathedral Catholic has won 16 in a row, including 13 shutouts and four perfect games for pitcher Megan Faraimo (UCLA signee). A three-loss team as national champion? Los Alamitos did a year ago.
Once beaten Lincoln Way East (Frankfort, Ill.), riding the arm of Alex Storako (Michigan signee), vaulted into the Top 25 at No. 11.
White Knoll (Lexington, S.C.) returned to the Top 25 this week at No. 24 and has a best-of-three showdown this week with No. 23 Byrnes (Duncan) for South Carolina’s large school state title.
3. (5) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 34-0
The Rockets defeated Pearl River Central 6-2 Friday to win the state Class 5A state championship and cap a 34-0 season. It was their sixth state title in as many years, and it extended the Rockets’ win streak to 39 games. Four seniors — Sindle Williams, Madalyn Thompson, Alex Bowen and Makenzie Barnett — wrapped up their high school careers with 122 wins. Junior Aspen Wesley (Mississippi State commit) earned her 23rd win in the final and finished the season with 326 strikeouts in 143 innings, an average of 2.3 strikeouts per inning. She pitched nine no-hitters this season.
4. (6) East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), 29-0
The Raiders won three games in the Queen of Swing Tournament last week and end the regular season on Friday against 25-2 Warren East (Bowling Green, Ky.
5. (7) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 25-2
The Griffins homered three times in a 13-0 win over Newport Harbor (Newport) to close out the regular season.
6. (8) Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), 23-0
Senior Jordyn Rudd has 19 extra base hits and 32 RBIs to go along with a .547 batting average and 37 runs scored.
7. (9) Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.), 29-2
Oakleaf takes a 20-game win streak into Friday’s state 8A semifinal game against 24-4 Lakefront Ranch.
8. (10) San Marcos (Calif.), 24-2
With a pair of wins last week, the Knights ran their win streak to 16.
9. (11) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 23-3
Cathedral has won 14 in a row and closes out the regular season this week against San Diego rivals Point Loma (7-18) and University City (14-10). Senior Megan Faraimo (UCLA signee) is 23-2 on the season with both losses coming by 1-0 scores. she has 326 strikeouts on the season.
10. (14) Keller (Texas), 30-2-1
The Indians defeated No. 4 and previously unbeaten Mansfield 8-4 to move o the fourth round of the Texas state 6A playoffs.
11. (NR) Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.), 19-1
Led by pitcher Alex Storako (Michigan signee) and Allison Jaquith (St. Leo signee), East has won 16 in a row. Storako is hitting .404 with 21 RBIs. In 91 innings she has a 0.96 ERA, a 13-1 record and 187 strikeouts. Jaquith is batting .472 with 19 RBIs.
12. (15) Fort Myers (Fla.), 28-2
With an 8-1 win over Braden River, the Green Wave move to the state 7A semifinals versus 25-4 Pembroke Pines Charter on Friday. The Green Wave have won 13 straight.
13. (16) Norco (Calif.), 24-3
The Cougars ended their regular season with an 18-1 win over Roosevelt. They have won five in a row since a 3-2 loss to No. 9 San Marcos.
14. (18) Madison (Vienna, Va.), 20-0
The Redhawks closed out the regular season with a 19-0 win over Oakton (Vienna).
15. (19) Tualatin (Ore.), 24-0
The Timberwolves closed the regular season by winning three times last week by a combined margin of 41-3. In 16 wins, Tualatin has allowed one or fewer runs in a game.
16. (21) Spanish Fork (Utah), 22-1
The Dons have won 19 in a row. Brylee Rudd homered twice in a 16-0 win over Mountain View (Orem) on Friday.
17. (22) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 28-0
Keystone is doing it all — hitting .470 as a team with 114 extra base hits, fielding .986 (only nine errors), running the bases (80 stolen bases) and pitching as opponents have scored just 13 times (only eight runs have been earned).
18. (23) Lake Stevens (Wash.), 17-1
Lake Stevens is led by senior pitcher Sara Johnson (Towson signee).
19. (NR) Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.), 22-0
The Griffins have allowed 25 runs and has scored 262 as all starters are hitting over .400. Sophomores Jayda Kearney (batting .606) and Karina Gaskins (12 homers, 45 RBIs) lead the way. Junior Lindsay Nelsonis 16-0 with a 0.70 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 76 innings.
20. (NR) Hoover (Clendenin, W. Va.), 28-0
The Huskies put a big exclamation mark in ending their regular season unbeaten with a convincing 4-0 win over previously ranked Hurricane. They have allowed just 23 runs this season and only two in their last nine games.
21. (3) Marist (Chicago), 27-2
The Redhawks have a pair of one-run losses this season. Since falling 7-6 to Bishop McNamara (Kankakee) last week, the Redhawks rebounded with a vengeance outscoring three foes 45-3.
22. (24) King’s Academy (Seymour, Tenn.), 34-2
The power-hitting Lions beat Friendship Christian (Lebanon) 8-1 in the first round of the state playoffs.
23. (20) Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.), 30-2
Byrnes saw its 21-game win streak end, but bounced back to take a best-of-three series to win the 5A UpState title. By winning, Byrnes meets 30-2 and No. 24 ranked White Knoll (Lexington) in a best-of-three series this week for the state 5A championship.
24. (NR) White Knoll (Lexington, S.C.), 30-2
Dropped out: Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), Mansfield (Texas), Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas), Eagle (Idaho).
Herbert Hoover defeated Bridgeport 4-0 to win the Region 2 softball championship. Garrett Cullen, WVMetroNews.com
By: Garrett Cullen | Posted: May 15, 2018 at 10:39 p.m. | Source: WV MetroNews (Click article for full picture gallery by Garrett Cullen. Total of 43 photos.)
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Class AA defending softball state champion Herbert Hoover will take a perfect record into the state tournament next week after beating Bridgeport on Tuesday night 4-0 for the Region 2 championship. (more…)
