The Patrick County High School Lady Cougar softball team won the Conference 32 Championship for the third time in four years Saturday at Lady Cougar Field, defeating Cave Spring 1-0.
Patrick County’s bats were quiet Saturday with only four hits made on the day. Savannah Moorefield reached safely all three bats with a single, a bunt and a triple to right-center field. The only other hit came on Abby Hutchens RBI single.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Savannah lead off with a triple. The Lady Cougars hit two back-to-back pop-ups to the shortstop. Abby Hutchens took the first pitch and hit it shallow to left field, just over the shortstop’s head for the RBI single. That was all the Lady Cougars needed.
Pitcher Cassidy Largen finished the game off in the top of the seventh for the Lady Cougars with great defense behind her: a ground out, a line drive and then a pop-up to get the win.
Largen finished with eight strikeouts, one walk and allowed no hits, her third solo no-hitter of the season.
“Defense was spot on today,” said Coach Roger Wilson. “With only eight straight outs, it took the whole defense to do their job today,” he added. “We had several heads up plays, especially from our girls on the corners. And our outfield played great as well,” Wilson said.
The only runner for the Lady Knights was a walk in the fourth. However, two pitches later, Makenzie Watts threw the runner out at second on an attempted steal.
“Our girls were ready for everything on defense,” said Wilson “They were communicating and making plays look easy,” he added.
Earlier in the week, the Lady Cougars defeated Blacksburg 4-1 in the quarterfinal Conference 32 match-up with Blacksburg.
Savannah Moorefield went 2-3 with a two-run homeruns. Melissa Pendleton and Melanie Roberson each had a double and Makenzie Watts had a triple for a total of five hits.
“After not playing for almost a week and continuously having to put the game off due to weather, we were pleased with the effort the girls gave,” said Coach Wilson. “They played great defense and made good contact with the bats,” he added.
Cassidy Largen threw a great game with the conditions prevailing during the game. “She worked hard and worked through some tough innings,” Wilson said. She allowed three hits and four walks.
The Lady Cougars hosted Turner Ashby for the second round of the Region III tournament Tuesday at 6 p.m.
