By: Ryan Pritt, Staff Writer | Posted: Mar. 22, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail Preps
As far as season openers go, Thursday night’s was certainly eventful for the defending Class AA softball state champions.
And while there was certainly some rust and some developing parts, for both teams, Herbert Hoover eventually picked up where it left off last season — with a win.
Hoover overcame an opening two-run uprising from visiting Poca and took advantage of a Dots mistake in the bottom of the eighth inning to walk off with a 3-2 win in the first game of its title defense.
“It was what you expect from a season opener,” Hoover coach Missy Smith said. “We did some good things, we did some not-good things. I’m proud of the way we fought through and I’m glad to escape with the win.”
One of the good things was certainly the performance of pitcher Delani Buckner, who struck out 15 Dots across eight frames and shook off some early wildness in eventually earning the win. She walked six and hit a batter, needing 137 pitches to eventually put the Dots (0-2) away.
“First-game nerves, we all had to get over it,” Buckner said. “Once you pitch more it’s easier to get warm, especially with all the adrenaline in the cold.”
Buckner burst onto the scene a year ago as a freshmen, pitching pivotal innings down the stretch and in the state tournament as the Huskies earned their second title since 2014.
She started off a bit slow on Thursday, walking Poca leadoff hitter Tori Gibeaut and yielding an RBI double to Taylor Bonnett to get Poca on the board. The Dots added a second run as Hoover catcher Jessica Canterbury made an errant throw trying to gun down courtesy runner Hanna Runion, who was stealing third. Runion trotted home to make the score 2-0.
Hoover answered with a run in the bottom half of the first as Rebekah Woody worked a leadoff walk from Bonnett and scored on a two-strike, two-out single from Kirsten Belcher.
Bonnett was sharp herself on Thursday, mixing speeds and utilizing two change-ups — one that drops and one that curves — to keep the Huskies off balance. She struck out eight and issued three walks, all three of which led off innings that eventually led to Huskies runs.
Bonnett missed last season with a knee injury suffered in basketball, but her return this year looks to already be paying dividends. She should provide Molly Collins with rest after Collins threw the bulk of the Dots’ innings last year.
On Thursday, Hoover didn’t hit a ball into the outfield until Meagan Seafler hit a fly ball to center to lead off the fifth inning.
“She looked pretty good,” Poca coach David Skeens said. “And of course, Buckner is going to look pretty good too.
“She’s looked good so far. We’ll find out tomorrow, we’re probably going to put her up against the great lineup of Hurricane. I think we’re all right though. Obviously Hoover, a good team, defending state champs, and I don’t see any reason they won’t be there again.”
Hoover tied it up in the fourth inning as Presley McGee walked, advanced to third on a bunt single from Buckner and scored on an 6-3 fielder’s choice off the bat of Taylor Carpenter.
Bonnett and the Dots held the Huskies at bay over the next three frames, getting key putouts on a night Hoover stranded eight runners.
Collins, who played center field as a sophomore before taking over in the circle out of necessity a year ago, is now playing third base, with Mercedes Bush taking over at shortstop. Those two positions were held last year by Poca’s lone two graduated seniors, Sarah Fisher and Casey Skeens.
On Thursday, it was evident that the left side of Poca’s infield is still a bit of a work in progress. Twice, Collins and Bush got mixed up on balls hit into the hole, allowing infield singles.
Hoover ended the game on another mix up. After McGee walked, Buckner grounded into a 5-4 fielder’s choice, but McGee was ruled safe at second to put two on and none out. McGee was thrown out trying to advance to third on a pitch in the dirt and Ava Young struck out, leaving courtesy runner Rylee Nottingham on second with two away.
Carpenter grounded to Collins, who ran to touch third without realizing there was no force out there. When she discovered her mistake, Collins threw to second to try to get a tag out of Nottingham, but her throw sailed high into the outfield, allowing Nottingham to scamper home with the winning run and setting off a celebration at home plate.
In all, both coaches felt like they had plenty to be enthusiastic about, with plenty to work on as well.
“We are 0-2, but I’m actually pretty happy,” Skeens said. “[Third base and shortstop are] new, second base is a freshman, left field is a freshman. They’ve just got to learn to play together.”
Belcher and Buckner each finished with a pair of singles and Mallori Chapman added a double for Hoover. Bonnett went 2 for 3 for Poca.
Reach Ryan Pritt at 304-348-7948, ryan.pritt@wvgazettemail.com or follow him on Twitter @RPritt.
