FAIRLEA- The Greenbrier East Lady Spartans could have very easily glanced ahead to Wednesday night’s clash with the Woodrow Wilson Lady Flying Eagles before taking care of business against Oak Hill on Tuesday night, April 30.
However, East did no such thing, and defeated the Lady Red Devils 13-4 in just five innings in the opening round of Region 3, Section 2 tournament play.
East (17-9) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, added five more in the second, then scored two apiece in innings three and four to get the victory.
Lily Carola had eight strikeouts in five innings and picked up the win for East.
Alanis McClary, a two-time West Virginia Daily News Diamond player of the week recipient, went a perfect 3-3 with a double, two runs, and two RBIs. Junior Hailey Ervin knocked a home run over the left field fence, and Taylor Boswell and Aly Martin both had multiple hit games as East solidified Wednesday’s much anticipated matchup with the Flying Eagles.
In their most recent meeting, East defeated Beckley 9-0 last Friday night, April 26. However, Beckley rested their ace pitcher, Aubrey Smallwood, so the Spartans could not get a clean look at her before sectional play. When Smallwood faced off against the Spartans and their likely Wednesday starter, Kayla Bartley back on March 22, East got a 1-0 win in the bottom of the seventh inning when Gracie Gumm drew a bases loaded walk. Also, in that contest, the Spartans had just four hits and the Eagles only mustered one. Bartley had 14 strikeouts for East and Smallwood had nine for Woodrow Wilson.
Needless to say, offense may be at a premium on Wednesday evening and the first team to score may very well win the game, but this is exactly the type of matchup fans want to witness in the postseason. The winner will clinch a guaranteed spot in the sectional title game.
We will have a full recap, player quotes and more late Wednesday night right here at WVDN.com and on our Facebook as well.
Photos from East’s win over Oak Hill by Brandon Baker:
