Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Karlee Salmons singles in the MSAC softball tournament championship game on April 30, 2025 at Little Creek Park in South Charleston.
Hurricane shortstop Jaden Jones makes a play to throw out a Cabell Midland runner in the MSAC softball tournament championship game on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Little Creek Park in South Charleston.
Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Madison McCallister awaits a pitch in the MSAC softball tournament championship game on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Little Creek Park in South Charleston.
Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Karlee Salmons singles in the MSAC softball tournament championship game on April 30, 2025 at Little Creek Park in South Charleston.
Hurricane shortstop Jaden Jones makes a play to throw out a Cabell Midland runner in the MSAC softball tournament championship game on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Little Creek Park in South Charleston.
Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Madison McCallister awaits a pitch in the MSAC softball tournament championship game on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at Little Creek Park in South Charleston.
SOUTH CHARLESTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” The slumbering bats might sound like the name of an indie label band, but itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not music to the ears of softball coaches at Cabell Midland nor Hurricane high schools.
Both teams struggled to score runs on Wednesday in the Mountain State Athletic Conference tournament. The Knights (19-3) beat the Redskins 1-0 in the championship game. Hurricane (20-4) slapped just two singles, and Cabell Midland totaled merely six hits.
Strong pitching by the KnightsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Drea Watts and the RedskinsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Sophi Dunlap was key. Still, Cabell Midland coach Herman Beckett and HurricaneÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Meghan Stevens said the offense needs to wake up next week in the sectional tournament.
The Knights will face Spring Valley and the Redskins will oppose Huntington High in opening-round games.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI wouldÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve never thought one run would win this ball game,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Beckett said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re peaking at the right time. Maybe thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll get us ready for next week.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Cabell Midland beat Spring Valley 2-1 in the MSAC semifinals. Hurricane topped Riverside 8-3 but did little against Watts.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe know what we need to do offensively,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Stevens said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s where weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re going to get to work. WeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll have better mindsets, better approaches. A lot of it is building that confidence back up in the box.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Watts coaxed Redskins batters to climb the ladder, starting low in the strike zone and finishing with high heat batters chased. Watts struck out 11. Linda Garcia used a similar approach against the Timberwolves.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œDrea and Linda pitched great for us,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Beckett said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe got innings out of Linda that we really needed. She threw her behind off. She pitched really well. Some good bats got sawed off.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Dunlap fanned just one batter, but her pitch-to-contact approach was supported by strong defense. Shortstop Jaden Jones, in particular, performed well in the field.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI think weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll figure it out,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Cabell Midland shortstop Becca Conrad said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve hit a little rough patch with the bats, but weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll figure it out and come around.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Conrad said sheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s pleased to know the Knights can win a 1-0 game against strong competition but would prefer a more comfortable margin of victory.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI did not,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Conrad said of whether she thought one run would be enough to beat Hurricane. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI did not think that would be the score at all. Drea pitched a great game.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
