HARTFORD, W.Va. òòò½ÊÓƵ” The Sherman softball team generated more magic on Friday night against Wahama in the decisive Game 3 of the Class A Region 4 finals, just not at the time they wanted.
The White Falcons held off the Tide 10-7 to advance to the state tournament, but it wasn't easy.
Wahama gained an early 6-0 lead, but the White Falcons instantly saw that lead evaporate and found themselves trailing the Tide 7-6. Wahama got it together and scored four unanswered runs to seal the victory.
"It feels great," White Falcons coachh Wes Riffle said. "We have girls that are battling injury, and girls that are battling sickness. Didn't really know how things would go, and they persevered and did enough to advance tonight."
An RBI single by Kalyn Christian in the bottom of the first inning put Wahama up 1-0, and an error to score Zoie Mayes, a run-scoring single by Fiona VanMatre, a two-run hit by Kate Reynolds and a hit to knock home a run by Payton Staats in the second frame sent the White Falcons to a 6-0 lead.
Sherman wasn't going away quietly, however.Â
The Tide pulled within 6-4 in the third via errors to plate Keira Stewart, Summer Harvey and Lexie Lowe, as well as an RBI single by Emma Russell.
Sherman then jumped in front 7-6 in the fourth with three more runs, thanks to a two-run double by Lowe and another two-bagger to plate a run by Peyton Foster.Â
Wahama tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the fourth after an RBI double by Christian, and the White Falcons bolted to a 10-7 edge in the fifth as VanMatre doubled to score another pair of runs and Christian flied out to send a runner home.
"My message to the girls was, we play 'til the final out," Riffle said. "We got up 6-0, but against a good team like that, that lead isn't safe. We had a couple unfortunate errors here and there that gave them some runs, but it was just, keep digging. That's what we do."
Audrey Reynolds batted a perfect 4 for 4 for the White Falcons with a double, while VanMatre (one double, three RBIs), Christian (one double, three RBIs), Phoebe Richardson (one double) and Mary Brinker each had two hits. Kate Reynolds (two RBIs) and Staats (one RBI) both had a hit.
Elissa Hoffman started once again in the circle for Wahama, pitching all seven frames and striking out five batters while giving up 10 hits, two walks and seven runs without surrendering an earned run.
The White Falcons won the state title in 2023, but then lost to Ravenswood twice in the sectionals last season. Now, they're trying to replicate the feeling of two years ago.
"This is a new group that goes to state," Riffle said. "Our senior class was freshmen and sophomores when they last went. We had a couple of different leaders then. They're not part of this group now. We're going to take the weekend off. We're going to just let girls get healthy. That's the biggest thing. We're just going to kind of create our own memories and create our own vibe."
Lowe (one double, two RBIs), Russell (one RBI) and Makayla Harless had two hits apiece for the Tide, while Harvey, Foster (one double, one RBI), Stewart and Audrina Smith all had a hit of their own.
Russell tossed six innings with one strikeout while being tagged for 14 hits, 10 runs, six earned runs and two walks.
"We came in and we let our nerves get to us a little bit," Sherman coach Terri Dawn Williams said. "We got behind 6-0, but we kept battling. We battled back and ended up taking the lead 7-6. That showed a lot of character for the girls, and I'm tickled to death."
Harvey, Jaden Jarrell, Emma Cabell and Alexis Lovejoy were the four Tide seniors this season.
Going into this year, Sherman hadn't won a sectional championship since 2019. Williams said that group set the standard for Sherman softball and that they'll be missed.
The Tide expects to have a talented team returning next year, though.
"We hit the ball," Williams said. "We have to continue to build on that and be a little bit tougher mentally. If we do that, not only will we be regional champs, but we're also going to make a run at the state tournament next year."
SHERMAN 004 300 0 òòò½ÊÓƵ” 7 10 2
WAHAMA 150 130 òòò½ÊÓƵ” 10 14 5
Russell and Lowe; Hoffman and VanMatre.
Hitting: (S) Harless 2-4, R; Lowe 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; Russell 2-3, RBI, BB; Harvey 1-2, R, BB, K; Foster 1-4, 2B, RBI; Smith 1-3, R, K; Stewart 1-3, R, 2 K. (W) A. Reynolds 4-4, 2B, 4 R, VanMatre 2-3, 2B, 3 RBI, BB; Christian 2-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI; Richardson 2-4, 2B, R; Brinker 2-3, R; K. Reynolds 1-4, 2 RBI, K; Staats 1-3, RBI, BB.
